Carnoustie’s ambition of creating the first Business Improvement District in Angus has taken another important step forward.
Angus Council has agreed to support the BID ballot proposal and the group behind the scheme will now press ahead with the plans for a local vote in which businesses will say whether or not they would be willing to pay a BID levy to invest in local projects and initiatives for the future.
An estimated 200 businesses within the BID area will have the chance to have their say on whether they would be willing to paying a levy based on rateable value if the scheme is put in place.
Chief executive Richard Stiff said: “A BID is about businesses working together and investing collectively in additional local projects and services to enhance their trading performance and environment.
“A successful operational BID can lead to reduced costs and a better area for everyone.
“BID projects and services are new; they do not replace services that are already provided by Angus Council. The BID levy is an entirely separate levy to which Angus Council has no access.
“It is fully controlled by the levy payers and is spent where the businesses want it spent,” added Mr Stiff.
The initiative has been launched elsewhere in Courier Country, including Crieff where it was recently announced that community events will benefit from more than £70,000 of funding over the next four years thanks to the Crieff Succeeds BID.
The Carnoustie BID ballot is scheduled for December when a vote by a majority of local businesses – representing more than half the rateable value of the BID area – will see the proposal proceed.
And although Angus Council’s policy and resources committee unanimously agreed to support the BID ballot proposal, as well as putting up funds which will be recouped if the initiative is successfully established, the authority has given up its right to vote in the process.
The council would have been entitled to a vote for each property on which it pays business rates, including the leisure centre, Kinloch care centre, library and ACCESS office and has calculated its annual BID levy payment at around £3,500.
Carnoustie councillor Brian Boyd said: “I think this is good news for Carnoustie, and for Angus as well.
“There are over 140 businesses getting a vote and I think it is a good idea that we abstain as a council and let them have their say.”
October should see the publication of the notice of BID ballot, with ballot day scheduled for December 7 and a result declaration on December 10.
