Details of NE1 Get Into Newcastle Scheme

Dear Gateshead Borough Council,

I write to ask about the recent work of the NE1 Business
Improvement District Company in conjunction with the Department of
Health, and the councils of Newcastle and Gateshead.

The work is here:

http://www.get-into-newcastle.co.uk/pubs...
http://www.newcastlene1ltd.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4jKtaf_G6Q

I welcome the site as a useful way of advertising the broad
spectrum of businesses operating in the city centre.

I would like to know the following:

* how is the website and its marketing funded. this is a quote from
the subsite ne1 ltd
"A BID is a company established and run by the business community
to address priorities set by the business community." a 'Levy' is
mentioned.
Is the site funded by this levy entirely? is the marketing entirely
funded by the levy?

if there is state involvement in the funding then I beleive I am
within my rights to ask further questions:

* how much was 'Sting' paid to feature in the advert above and if
possible please tell me whether the advert was filmed in Newcastle.
Please have payment figures include his flight or travel if it was
not.

* How much was spent and where on placing the Sting and other
advertisement on sunderland bus lcd screens, hoardings and all
other places it has been placed including online links and ads.

* How much was spent creating the website.

* Analytics data for the amount of hits the website has received
since its inception.

* how the deals taken from the website for discount shopping in
businesses are maintained and paid for.

* how businesses become 'featured businesses' on the site.

* how the business frontage cleaning services 'clean team'
advertised here:
http://www.newcastlene1ltd.com/

operates.

Thank you sincerely for your time.

Yours faithfully,

D Littlefair