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Retail and business quarter of the Plymouth City Centre
In accordance with Part 4 of the Local Government Act 2003 and The Business Improvement Districts (England) Regulations 2004, I have been instructed by the City Council (the billing authority) to hold a ballot in relation to BID proposals which have been submitted by the Plymouth City Centre Company Limited as required by Regulation 4(2). This statement provides an explanation of the arrangements for the BID ballot.
The BID arrangements and proposals are described in detail in the BID Business Plan submitted by the Plymouth City Centre Company Limited (PCCC) to Plymouth City Council. A copy of the BID Business Plan will be forwarded to you by PCCC during week beginning the 7 September 2009.
Arrangements for the BID ballot
The ballot is a secret ballot and will be conducted entirely by post under the direction of:
The Deputy Ballot Holder, Electoral Registration Service, Plymouth City Council, Civic Centre, Plymouth, PL1 2EW
Ballot papers will be posted to all eligible voters on or by the 11 September 2009 and all ballot papers must be returned to The Deputy Ballot Holder by no later than 5pm on 16 October 2009 (known as the 'day of the ballot').
Who can vote in the ballot?
All business ratepayers (non domestic) in the defined BID area and who are listed on the Council’s database as at the 1 August 2009 are eligible to vote in the ballot (the date of the notice of ballot).
People entitled to vote in this ballot will have one vote in respect of each hereditament occupied or (if unoccupied) owned by them in the area of the proposed BID.
Appointment of proxies
Persons eligible to vote in the BID ballot may appoint someone else to vote on their behalf (for, example, if they were going to be away at the time of the ballot).
Applications to appoint a proxy must be submitted to The Deputy Ballot Holder at the above address not later than 5pm on the 6 October 2009. An application for the appointment of a proxy must be made in writing and:
- state the full name and address of the person to be appointed as proxy
- state the address of the applicant’s hereditament
- be signed by the applicant
- contain a statement by the applicant that they have consulted the proxy and that that person is capable of being and willing to be appointed
Alternatively, you may arrange for the ballot paper to be sent to someone else within your business so long as that person is located at either the address of the business within the BID area, or at your principal place of business within England. You can do this by advising my office stating the name and address of the person to whom the ballot paper should be sent and details of their position in your business. If you wish to appoint a proxy or nominate a voter to vote on your behalf please do so in plenty of time. Please refer to my covering letter for contact details.
Issue of ballot papers
Ballot papers will be posted to eligible voters by no later than Friday 18 September 2009.
Lost ballot papers
If you (or your proxy - if one is appointed) do not receive your ballot paper by Monday 12 October 2009 you may apply to The Ballot Holder at the above address for a replacement, including evidence as to your identity.
Spoilt ballot papers
If you spoil your ballot paper you can return it to The Deputy Ballot Holder by not later than 5pm on Monday 12 October 2009 either by post or in person and you will be issued with a replacement.
How to complete the ballot paper
To complete the ballot paper you must:
- check that the address of the property printed on the ballot paper is the one in respect of which you are entitled to vote
- place a cross (X) in either the 'YES' box or the 'NO' box on the ballot paper
- sign the ballot paper in the space provided and write your name and the position that you hold in block capitals
The ballot paper must be returned to The Deputy Ballot Holder in the envelope supplied to arrive not later than 5pm on the Friday 16 October 2009.
Any ballot paper, which is not signed or unmarked or is otherwise considered void for uncertainty will not be counted.
The count of ballot papers and declaration of result
Ballot papers will be counted and the result declared by Friday 16 October 2009. The result will be published on this web site shortly afterwards.
For a ballot to be successful there must be a simple majority of those voting in favour of the proposal, both in terms of the numbers voting and also the rateable value represented by those voting.
Please find documents relating to the ballot below:
Plymouth BID letter 2009 [48.5KB]
Ballot paper proof [26.7KB]
Plymouth BID arrangements [48.9KB]