DARTMOUTH Business Improve­ment District has decided to go it alone without a manager for now.

The role has been vacant since the resignation of Alison Steere in the middle of Sept­ember.

Chairman Peter Conisbee said this week: ‘The board has decided not to recruit a replacement BID manager for the time being.

‘We are re-evaluating that role and in the short term the responsibilities are being split between myself and several self-employed, paid consultants.’

He said one of them was Francesca Johnson, a former BID manager and director who failed to get elected on to the BID board at its annual meeting in March.

But he stressed that Ms Johnson was not an associate member of the BID board and was present at the last board meeting because she was taking the minutes.

‘Francesca is one of these [paid consultants] and has been involved in the launch of the new website and routine administration,’ he said.

‘She is not an associate, although she attended the last board meeting to take minutes.

‘She is not involved in the production of the newsletter, neither does she represent the BID on the group set up to handle the park and ride negotiations.’

Among the present marketing initiatives being undertaken by the BID is a three-month digital campaign starting this month using Facebook, Google Ads and Ad Exchange with regular weekly reviews to decide coverage and timeslots.

A report of this month’s board meeting posted on the BID website states a Guardian advertisement will also go ahead using a similar format as last year.

Town council representative Cllr Tessa de Galleani suggested an approach could be made to the BBC to encourage a remake of the 1970s TV?series The Onedin Line, part of which was filmed in Dartmouth.

Former chairman Nigel Way said he believed it could be beneficial to have more interaction with Plymouth and Torquay BIDs to share experience and knowledge.

Mr Conisbee added that more details on expenditure were being worked on and would appear on the website shortly.

A full copy of the BID’s accounts are available upon request from levy payers.

The minutes from the October board meeting are available on the BID’s new website: www. dartmouthbid.co.uk.

l An open discussion on the BID will take place tonight at the annual meeting of the Dart­mouth Business Forum, starting at 5.30pm in the Clifton Room of the Guildhall.

The meeting is expected to see the reinstatement of Paul Reach as forum chairman along with the current board of directors.

Mr Reach said on Wednesday: ‘No nominations have been received for membership of the four-person committee and board of the forum.

‘The existing board of Paul Reach, chairman; Owen Hill, legal counsel; and Michael Ghersie, financial; will therefore continue to take those roles until the next committee election in two years.

‘I have yet to establish wheth­er Peter Bailey will continue as a committee member but will confirm this at the AGM.’

The meeting is open to all members of the public.