BIDs can only operate in areas where they have been voted in by levy paying businesses, delivering activity prioritised by those businesses. Once voted in, BIDs can operate for five years before another ballot is held to decide whether businesses want to have a BID for another five year term.
The Bognor Regis BID’s first term is due to end on 31st March 2023. The ballot to decide whether there’s another five year term takes place on 14th February 2023. It’s a postal ballot, so you need to make sure your views are represented by sending your official voting paper back to the independent election company so it reaches them in time for the 14th February.
HOW DO I VOTE IN THE BID BALLOT?
If you are a levy paying business, you should by now have received a bright yellow envelope through the post which includes the NOTICE of BALLOT for the proposed renewal of Bognor Regis Business Improvement District (BID).
Soon after the 13th January you’ll receive a brightly coloured green envelope containing the BALLOT PAPER. This is the form you complete and return in the envelope provided, stating whether you support a second five year term of the BID starting on 1st April 2023. The number of ballots submitted will be counted at 5pm on the 14th February 2023, but you don’t need to wait till then to vote - once you’ve received your ballot paper, you can return your vote by post straight away.
WHAT INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE TO HELP ME DECIDE WHAT’S BEST FOR MY BUSINESS?
The BID Team will be delivering hard copies of the Business Plan to businesses in the week commencing 9th January. You can link to an electronic version of the Bognor Regis BID’s business plan here:
The Business Plan outlines what the BID will deliver consistently year in, year out, from 2023 to 2028 if businesses vote YES for a second term. It also includes a summary of delivery in the first term, and what will be lost in the outcome of a NO vote.
If you’d like to have more detail, you can download the full Business Proposal as well as a full list of what we've delivered in Term 1 at: www.brbid.org/term2 The BID’s Term 2 webpage has been updated with key documents, dates and information on how to vote, and this will be supported by messaging through the BID’s social channels. Over the next five weeks, members of the BID Team will be visiting and telephoning businesses to encourage you to vote and answer any questions.
We’re also available at the POP! Unit at 10 The Arcade until 7pm to help with any questions from levy paying businesses from Monday to Friday in the week commencing 23rd January 2023.
HOW WAS THE BUSINESS PLAN PUT TOGETHER?
The activity proposed in the Term 2 Business Plan is based on two consultations with levy paying businesses in 2022. It’s a “realistically ambitious” plan based on the £139k generated in BID levy every year and the number of staff this enables to deliver the projects, activity and services you’ve prioritised to benefit the BID Area of the town and your individual business.
We know that times continue to be really tough for businesses of all sizes, across all sectors, and we know you’re having to make difficult choices in the face of national and global factors that are outside of everyone’s control. You need to make the best decision for your business as to where you prioritise and invest your finances to secure your long-term future.
Voting yes or no to a second term of the Bognor Regis BID is your right, and your decision, so we’re not going to try to hard-sell you the idea of a second term. There’s no need for arguments or drama - it’s an objective decision for each levy paying business to make based on the evidence of our first term delivery and second term proposals as set out in this business plan. Once you’ve had a chance to consider, we hope you’ll continue to support the progress the BID is making for businesses by voting yes to invest in the future of Bognor Regis.
With kindest regards,
Heather Allen,
Bognor Regis BID COO
WANT MORE DETAILS?
You can read and download the full BID Term 2 Proposal and other documents at: https://www.brbid.org/term2
You can read and download the BR BID’s Business Plan as an e-newsletter at: https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/67465795
CONTACT US
You can contact us at any time with any questions about the ballot or the business plan:
Bognor Regis BID: 10 The Arcade, Bognor Regis PO21 1LH
Email Heather Allen, BR BID Co-Ordinator: heather@brbid.org
Visit our website: www.brbid.org
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