To agree to vote yes in the Herefordshire County Business Improvement District ballot due to be held in November 2021. Should the ballot be successful, the Business Improvement District (excluding Hereford City Centre, which has an existing Business Improvement District) will implement a 5 year business led programme to support the growth of the tourism and retail across Herefordshire.

If the BID is formed, the council will be liable for a levy of 2% on business rate payments on 23 units in our ownership equating to £14,515 per annum.

That:

a) the Head of Economy be authorised to vote in favour of the Herefordshire County Business Improvement District on behalf of the council;

b) should the outcome of the ballot support the development of the Herefordshire County BID, approve the payment of the levy on liable properties in the council’s ownership, calculated to be £14,515 per annum for a period of up to five years.

1.     The council could decide to not vote in the ballot or to vote ‘no’. Given the number of votes the council holds (23) this may mean that the proposed development of the Herefordshire County BID is unsuccessful. This would severely limit the growth of a key local industry significantly impacted by Covid 19. Should the Herefordshire County BID not be approved following the ballot the council would save £14,515 per annum in levy payments. However, establishing any alternative arrangements is likely to be significantly more expensive for the council.