BID ballot

The person(s), registered company or organisation who is the ratepayer for non-domestic rates of a rating hereditament within the BID area as at 11 January 2005 is entitled to vote.

Each person entitled to vote in the BID ballot shall have one vote in respect of each hereditament in the geographical area of the BID on which non-domestic rates are payable.

The ballot will have to meet two tests. First, a simple majority (above 50%) of those voting must vote in favour. Second, those voting in favour must represent a majority of the aggregate rateable value of the hereditaments voting. The ballot papers will be forwarded to those ratepayers who are eligible to vote on 1 February 2005 and must be returned by 1 March 2005.

The BID levy, liability and collection

A BID levy of 1% of rateable value will be charged on all hereditaments listed in the 2000 Local Non-Domestic Rating list and which are located within the BID area. The following types of business within the BID area will be exempt from paying the BID levy: offices (except for employment, recruitment and training agencies/businesses, or where the office forms part of a bank/building society or other financial institution); commercial car parking spaces that are rated separately; concessions: onstreet traders, kiosks and promotions; telephone masts, and advertising poster drums. The BID levy will not be reduced where the ratepayer is a charity or non-profit making organisation. The BID levy will also not be affected by the Government’s Small Business Rate Relief Scheme which comes into effect on 1 April 2005.

The BID levy will be set on the 1 December 2004, based on the rateable values shown in the 2000 Local Non-Domestic Rating list, updated for any changes in ratepayer, appeals, additions and removals from the list to that date. For new assessments, splits and mergers (of rateable values) brought into the list between 1 December 2004 and 31 March 2005, the rateable value used will be that as shown in the non-domestic rating 2000 list at the date the new or amended assessment is brought into that list. From 1 April 2005, the BID levy for any new occupiers, splits or mergers in the BID area, will be calculated based on the 2005 local non-domestic rating list (as at date brought into list). The BID levy will not be adjusted to reflect any changes to the rateable value during the 5 years of the BID. In addition any 'Taken out of Rating' cases will be deleted from the effective date as advised by the Valuation Office Agency to the City Council's non-domestic rates section. The BID levy will be increased each year by the annual inflationary factor for Local non-domestic rate bills as calculated by H.M. Government.

The BID levy will be collected by Plymouth City Council annually on 1 April. The Council will reimburse the Plymouth City Centre Company with BID levies on a monthly basis.

Financial management

Plymouth City Centre Company will provide the Council with quarterly updates detailing expenditure under the BID and cash flows. The Company will oversee the accounts bi-monthly in the first year.

Governance and management

The current Plymouth City Centre Company Board of Directors will represent all business sectors currently operating in Plymouth. This will occur by co-option until the first Annual General Meeting. Every business will be a member of the company and eligible to vote at Annual General Meetings. The full Board will meet at least bi-monthly.

A BID management committee will meet regularly and will be responsible for the delivery of BID projects, with operational sub-groups covering specific themes and projects.

Alteration of BID arrangements

The BID area and the BID levy percentage (other than inflationary increases announced by the Government for NNDR) cannot be altered without an alteration ballot.

The BID projects, headings, costs and timescales can be altered by the Board, within the constraints of BID income. The BID management committee and any sub-groups will manage budgets within their areas of speciality.

[Back to top]