BID Ballot

Business Improvement Districts (England) Regulations 2004

Great Yarmouth Town Centre - For the final result of the ballot which closed on the 17 February 2011 please click  here

Introduction

In accordance with the Business Improvement Districts (England) Regulations 2004, I have been instructed by Great Yarmouth Borough Council (the billing authority) to hold a ballot in relation to the BID proposals which have been submitted by Great Yarmouth Town Centre Partnership.  This statement provides an explanation of the arrangements for the BID ballot.

The BID arrangements and proposals are described in detail in the Great Yarmouth GYBID business plan which can be accessed via the following link: www.gybid.co.uk  

Arrangements for the BID ballot

The ballot is a secret ballot and will be conducted entirely by post under the direction of:

The Ballot Holder, Electoral Services, Great Yarmouth Borough Council, Town Hall, Great Yarmouth, NR30 2QF

Ballot papers will be posted to all eligible voters on or by the 20 January 2011 and all ballot papers must be returned to the Deputy Ballot Holder by no later than 5 p.m. on 17 February 2011 (known as the ‘day of ballot’).

The BID levy

A BID levy of 1.5% rateable value will be charged on all hereditaments (rateable properties) listed in the 2005 local non-domestic rating list and which are located in the BID area.  The levy will be reduced by 0.5% for all businesses located west of Haven Bridge and north of Vauxhall Bridge, and those whose shop fronts are located within a managed shopping centre, e.g. Market Gates Shopping Centre.

The following types of business within the BID area will be exempt:

• Those with a rateable value of less than £9,000 per annum

• Offices not having public callers

• Commercial car parking spaces that are rated separately

• Schools and community buildings

• Concessions

The BID levy will not be reduced where the ratepayer is a charity or non-profit making organization.  The BID levy will also not be affected by the Government Small Business Rate Relief Scheme.  A small number of businesses within the gyBID area have extremely high rateable values, far in excess of the majority of businesses in the BID area.  To ensure they receive proportionate benefit from the BID, a ceiling of £5,500 per hereditament in year one has been applied, plus indexation in future years.

Download  Notice of BID ballot