Businesses weigh up pros and cons of BID as period starts for voting on levy

THE BALLOT to decide the future of Bradford’s proposed £2.5m business improvement district (BID) got underway yesterday.

More than 630 businesses and other organisations have just under a month to vote on whether they wish to pay an annual levy to create and maintain the BID, which supporters say will provide a safer, cleaner, more vibrant and better promoted city centre over the next five years.

The group of business leaders who have spent more than 18 months planning and preparing for the ballot are now urging voters to return their ballot papers – which should already have arrived – early.

Ian Ward, chairman of the Bradford BID development board, said he though Bradford should have had a BID years ago.

“It just makes so much sense. I think it would be very difficult for any business that wants a voice and a future not to vote Yes!” he said.

He added: “What businesses and voters have to be absolutely clear about is that, apart from the administrative cost of collecting it, not a penny of the money raised by the business levy will go to the council or its coffers.”

Businesses have until 5pm on October 11 to return their postal ballot votes, and the result will be declared the following day. For the BID to go ahead, a simple majority of those who vote, representing more than half the total rateable value of all the properties, must be in favour.

The Broadway and Kirkgate shopping centres, the University of Bradford, Bradford College, the National Science and Media Museum, the Telegraph & Argus and major employers such as Provident Financial and Santander have all expressed strong support for the BID and a number of organisations outside the levy area – including Bradford City AFC, Bradford Bulls and Sovereign Health – have also pledged support if it goes ahead.

David Baldwin, chairman of the Bradford Economic Partnership, said: “Let’s back the BID and see where it takes us.”