What are Business Improvement Districts?
Business Improvement Districts are business-led partnerships which are created through a ballot process to deliver additional services to local businesses, above what the council can deliver.
Legislation enabling the formation of BIDs was passed under the Local Government Act 2003, specifically the BIDs (England) Regulations 2004. A BID is a not-for-profit company formed within a defined geographical area and delivers a programme of agreed actions set out in an approved business plan.
The role of Waverley Borough Council
Waverley Borough Council has three statutory roles in the delivery of the BIDs in the borough:
- The provision of baseline statement of services
- Role in carrying out the ballot
- If the ballot is successful, role as billing authority.
The council was instructed by the business-led BID proposers in Cranleigh, Godalming and Farnham to run the month-long BID ballots in 2023. They notified the Secretary of State and submitted their five-year business plans at this point.
The ballot was undertaken by Civica ERS during 2023 on behalf of Waverley Borough Council. These were carried out in accordance with the BID regulations 2004.
A successful vote is one that has a simple majority both in votes cast and in rateable value of votes cast. Each business entitled to vote in a Business Improvement District ballot is allowed one vote in respect of each property occupied or (if unoccupied) owned by them in the geographical area of the Business Improvement District. Once the Business Improvement District is in operation the levy is charged on all businesses within the Business Improvement District area (regardless of whether or how that business voted in the ballot). These ballots were successful and are valid.
BID ballot results
The borough of Waverley now has three BIDs, which operate in defined areas of Godalming, Farnham and Cranleigh.
You can contact your local BID directly, to find out more about the BID development process, its planned activities and for a copy of the business plan:
Cranleigh Village Bid (cranleighbid.co.uk)
Farnham Bid – Farnham Business Together
Godalming BID
More information about BIDs is available on the Government website: Business Improvement Districts - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
BIDs can be a powerful tool for directly involving local businesses in local activities and allow the business community and local authorities to work together to improve the local trading environment.
You will be liable to pay a BID levy if you are responsible for Business Rates for a property in the BID area.
The ballot
Businesses that are subject to the levy, as set out in the proposals, vote in a ballot. This determines whether the scheme goes ahead.
A successful vote is one that has a simple majority both in votes cast and in rateable value of votes cast. Each business entitled to vote in a Business Improvement District ballot is allowed one vote in respect of each property occupied or (if unoccupied) owned by them in the geographical area of the Business Improvement District.
Once the Business Improvement District is in operation, the levy is charged on all businesses within the Business Improvement District area (regardless of whether or how that business voted in the ballot).
Cranleigh BID proposers held their ballot in March 2023.
Farnham and Godalming BID proposers held their ballot in October 2023.
- The BID will last for five years
- The BID levy rate is 2% of the rateable value at the start of the billing period each year
- The BID levy is payable on all properties that have a rateable value of £5,000 or more.
Waverley is responsible for billing and collecting the BID levy on behalf of the BID Companies.
Making a payment
Payment details:
Waverley Borough Council
Sort Code: 40-22-12
Account number: 21369121
When making a payment, quote your BID invoice number and not your Business Rates account number.
BIDs in Waverley
Cranleigh BID
Billing period: 1 November to 31 October each year.
BID levy rate: 2% of the rateable value as at 1 November each year.
For further information about the Cranleigh BID or if you have any queries, visit the Cranleigh BID website.
Farnham BID
Billing period: 1 April to 31 March each year.
BID levy rate: 2% of the rateable value as at 1 April each year.
For further information about the Farnham BID or if you have any queries, visit the Farnham BID website.
Godalming BID
Billing period: 1 April to 31 March each year.
BID levy rate: 2% of the rateable value as at 1 April each year.
For further information about the Godalming BID or if you have any queries, visit the Godalming BID website.