BID Update
April 8, 2019
Little Chelsea Business Plan Launch
April 24, 2019
I've lost my ballot paper (or it hasn't arrived)
Businesses who have lost a ballot can apply for a replacement one by
• Writing a letter along with the appropriate ‘evidence of identity’ or
• Scanning a letter and the ‘evidence of identity’ or
• Faxing a letter and the ‘evidence of identity’
Evidence of identity can be: • A signed letterhead for the appropriate company or • A signed photocopy of the National Non-Domestic Rating Bill for the hereditament or • A signed photocopy of an item of personal ID such as a passport or driving licence This can be emailed to [email protected]. Full details are available at www.youreastbournebid.com
Evidence of identity can be: • A signed letterhead for the appropriate company or • A signed photocopy of the National Non-Domestic Rating Bill for the hereditament or • A signed photocopy of an item of personal ID such as a passport or driving licence This can be emailed to [email protected]. Full details are available at www.youreastbournebid.com
What is a Business Improvement District?
A BID is a business led organisation working to implement projects that benefit an area and its businesses.
Your Eastbourne BID can only start operating after a successful ballot of businesses in the BID area which will be conducted by the local Council on our behalf.
How long would our BID last?
Your Eastbourne BID would last five years after which it has to submit to a new ballot.
The vast majority of BIDs vote "yes" in larger numbers when their ballot is held.
How would Eastbourne BID be run?
The day to day operation of the BID is managed by a steering group which any levy payer can apply to join.
The group includes town centre retailers, pubs, clubs, restaurants and offices. In effect, every business whose rateable value is £6,000 or more.
Following the first AGM in 2020, an Advisory Panel will be established comprising volunteer members who will formulate strategy, projects and priorities and oversee the delivery of the BID.
How is a BID funded?
It is funded by a small levy on all businesses within the BID area. In Eastbourne this would be calculated at 1.5% of your rateable value and would be collected annually.
Serviced tenancies who pay a charge to The Beacon Centre for security and marketing will receive a 15% discount on the total levy payable.
If you decide Your Eastbourne BID would help make Eastbourne a better place to do business, please vote “Yes” in the ballot.
Are any businesses excluded?
Some charities are excluded - including those who do not make money selling goods in a retail shop and NHS properties
For example, the Food Bank would be excluded while charity shops are included.
NHS premises are excluded but any premises practising health services privately are included.
Businesses with a rateable value of £5,999 or less a year are excluded but will be encouraged to make a donation each year.
How is the vote calculated?
In order for the BID to come into existence, a simple majority of those voting must vote in favour.
However, their votes must also represent a majority of the aggregate rateable value of the properties that vote.
When will the ballot be held in Eastbourne?
The ballot lasts for 28 days and will start on the 4th July 2019.
For a BID to be set up, there needs to be a ballot of eligible businesses.
The ballot will ask a simple question: “Are you in favour of the proposals for the Eastbourne Business Improvement District?”
Do the Local Council pay?
Both Eastbourne Borough Council and East Sussex County Council will pay into the BID levy
Both have a number of properties within the BID and will therefore be billed.
Both authorities have stated that they will be voting YES in July.
Who actually votes?
The owner of the business normally votes. National chains may delegate the responsibility to a local manager or appoint someone to vote from head office. They may consult the local manager before voting.
If you wish to nominate a local manager or individual to vote in the BID ballot on your behalf, please get in touch with the Eastbourne BID team.
If your business falls within the proposed BID area and has a rateable value above £5,999, you are eligible to vote in the BID ballot.
How will the levy be collected?
The BID levy will be collected through the current business rates system, but will be the subject of a separate bill.
The levy may be amended on an annual basis in line with inflation, at a rate to be agreed by Your Eastbourne BID Advisory Panel to a maximum of 2%.
The Eastbourne BID will be clear and transparent about how it is spending the money. Regularly updated information about income and expenditure will be available to all members of the BID.
Why do my business rates not cover this?
The BID will provide services and benefits over and above those offered by the local authority and other statutory agencies
The BID will sign what is known as a Baseline Agreement with both Eastbourne Borough Council and East Sussex County Council, which will legally establish what the local authorities already deliver, and the steering group will monitor these agreements
How long will the BID last?
The BID will last for five years, meaning guaranteed investment in Eastbourne until 2024.
If you want the BID to continue beyond 2024, you will make this
decision in 2024 through a further ballot process.
During the five year term, there will be KPIs reported to the BID advisory board, measuring the success of the BID in achieving its goals, including footfall and awareness of the town.
How will I be represented?
If the ballot in 2019 is successful, the Eastbourne BID Limited will be a subsidiary of the not-for-profit Edeal enterprise agency, in operation for over 30 years.
It will have separate management accounts and bank accounts which will be independently audited annually.
The levy will be ringfenced for the purposes of the operation and delivery of the BID.
EDEAL will be responsible for the governance of the BID, whilst operational matters overseen by the Your Eastbourne BID Advisory Panel. The Advisory Panel will formulate strategy, projects and priorities for the BID whilst ensuring accountability.
The first AGM will take place within the first 12 months after the BID starts its work.
The Advisory Panel has already been appointed for the first year to represent every part of the BID Area.
Any business owner who is eligible to vote and pay the levy may become a voluntary member of the BID Advisory Panel, alongside representatives of our business partners – including Healthy High Streets, the Chamber of Commerce, Edeal Enterprise Agency, The Beacon Centre,The Enterprise Centre and Eastbourne Hospitality Association.
Any levy payer (or staff member appointed by the levy payer) can stand for election to the Board at the AGM each year from 2020.
How will we hear about the progress of the BID?
We will hold regular Board meetings and will log performance against agreed Key Performance Indicators.
We will also hold networking events, send out regular emails and issue an annual report to all levy payers. Board reports will be published on the website
What if I am a new hereditament or my rateable value changes?
If a new hereditament joins during the year, then they will be added to the BID at their first annual billing.
Should a hereditament have their rateable value re-assessed, this will be updated at their next annual billing. Amendments will not be issued or backdated.
How is the the levy paid?
How is the levy paid?
The BID levy will be billed as an annual fee by Eastbourne Borough Council. The first Bill is estimated to take place in October 2019 should the ballot be successful.
