Minehead
‘Minehead Business Improvement District: The arguments for and against as voting starts’
WITH voting due to start next week on whether or not to run Minehead Business Improvement District (BID) for another five years, the Free Press has been giving a voice to supporters and opponents of an extension.
The Government describes a Business Improvement District as a business-led partnership created through a ballot to deliver additional services to local businesses. It covers a defined area where a levy is charged on all business rate payers. They last up to five years, and there has to be a new ballot for the BID scheme to continue for another term. The Government says there is no limit on what projects or services can be provided through a Business Improvement District. The only requirement is that it should be something that is in addition to services provided by local authorities. Improvements may include, but are not limited to, extra safety/security, cleansing and environmental measures. Voting in Minehead will be by way of a postal ballot which take place over 28 days, ending at 5 pm on Thursday, June 8, and a simple majority will decide the issue.
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Minehead
‘Minehead BID lose ballot of businesses and is ousted by 'Kick Out' campaign’
MINEHEAD’s Business Improvement District organisation (BID) was this week rejected in a members’ ballot and will cease its activities at the end of the month.
Members voted 62-50 to reject BID’s plans for the next five years and promotion of the town will revert to bodies including the town council, Minehead Coastal Community Group, Somerset Council and the tourist information centre, unless any new organisations are formed.
Main opposition to BID’s plans came from the pressure group “Kick Out Minehead Bid”, whose leading campaigner, businessman Ben Jewell, said this week: “Hopefully, everybody can accept the result and put BID behind us. It is clear the majority of businesses saw no value or return on their investment.” But a BID spokesman said that in the past five years the organisation had helped raise the town’s profile, created a more attractive environment and made it a more vibrant place. “Had it been voted in, a new five year term would have sought additional income to finance a range of new and major improvements which would have benefitted all Minehead businesses.” Mr Jewell told the Free Press that traders he had spoken with were obviously happy with the ballot result.
“The numbers speak for themselves - the ballot in 2018 returned support of 41 per cent and after five years of trying BID, that support dropped to 26 per cent. Each business voted on whether Minehead BID should continue and it was democratically decided that it should come to an end.” Mr Jewell said that BID had divided businesses in the town, but said: “It is important now that all businesses put their views on BID aside and come together in a pragmatic manner, while also reaching out to the wider community in the best interests of the town.”
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