Consultation on one of UK’s biggest BIDs has begun
A BUSINESS Improvement District is in the works in York.
The suggested BID preliminarily includes over 1,000 businesses,which would make it one of the UK’s largest by number.
If the suggested 1% levy was agreed, for businesses with a rateable value above £7,500, the BID could raise around £870,000 a year.
Insurance giant Hiscox UK, the City of York Council, Monkbar Hotel, Virgin East Coast Rail, and York Cocoa House are all on board already.
The BID team is made up of members of City Team York, which first evolved when the Monks Cross development outside the city was in planning to ensure that the city centre itself was safeguarded.
The team includes Adam Sinclair, chairman of City Team, and managing director of fine china and cookware firm Mulberry Hall, businesswoman Sophie Jewett of York Cocoa House, Sally Burns director of communities and neighbourhoods and restaurateur Michael Hjort of Walmgate Ale House, Melton’s and York Food Festival, among others.
The City of York Council is also backing the BID. If a majority of voters, more than 50% both by number and rateable value, vote to support the business plan, then a BID will be established for five years.
All businesses in the BID area will be required to pay the mandatory levy whether or not they cast a vote.
City Team, some of whose members are on the interim board for the BID, was originally formed to create a dialogue between businesses and this time round is no different.
Steve Hughes, formerly managing editor of York newspaper The Press, who left in February, is project managing the BID. He said: “There are now around 200 BIDs across the UK and we think setting up a BID in York is a great way to help the city centre to thrive, and without it the city will fall behind.
“We are already getting a good response, particularly online where we are developing our presence on social media. Businesses are very aware of the BID and I’ve had personal conversations with around 100 businesses.”
“Some might be sceptical to begin with but we have to get across that a BID company provides services that are additional to that of the council, rather than taking over from what the council does.
Tim Hedley Jones, major projects director of Virgin Trains East Coast said: “As the new kid on the block in York, Virgin Trains East Coast is pleased to be able to support the establishment of a Business Improvement District.
“We’re a partnership between Stagecoach and Virgin, so it’s our ethos that more can be done when you get together, whether that’s making the city more attractive to visitors, or just having fun. A vote in favour of the BID is a vote in favour of a prosperous future.”
The proposals put forward outline rateable value thresholds, and the suggested area which would be covered by the BID.
The York BID team has been learning from issues surrounding the Leeds and Sheffield BIDs, namely that of communication and getting businesses to engage with the concept.
They are holding an event this coming Thursday, 21 May, between 11am and 7pm at the Monkbar Hotel for businesses who are interested in finding out more about the BID and how it will affect them.
