Arrangements for the BID ballot

Retail and business quarter of the Plymouth City Centre

Introduction

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 18 January 2005.

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 1 February 2005 and all ballot papers must be returned to The Deputy Ballot Holder by not later than 5pm on Tuesday 1 March 2005 (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 11 January 2005 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 19 February 2005. 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 Tuesday 1 February 2005.

Lost ballot papers

If you (or your proxy - if one is appointed) do not receive your ballot paper by Wednesday 23 February 2005 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 Thursday 24 February 2005 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 1 March 2005.

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 Thursday 3 March 2005. 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.

To download the arrangements for the BID ballot as a complete document please see below.

You should have received the following ballot documents:

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