Summary
Please click on the links below or in the top left drop down menu, to view what we see as some of the objections to, negative aspects and risks associated with Taunton BID. No scheme this large is without it’s risks, and the proposers have been careful not to mention any potential downsides, so in the absence of this hopefully this website helps every business build a balanced view. Taunton must be careful not to “jump on the bandwagon” just because we’re being told “everyone else is doing it”; sometimes it’s better not to follow the crowd!
Note that this information is still in development (let’s remember that Taunton BID have had months to develop their case), and it will also be expanded as the Taunton BID proposal is developed and finalised into a Business Plan in the Autumn of 2019, ready for a ballot in early 2020.
Below are the first few points (of many) which we’ll be adding to at regular intervals as we’ve chosen to drip the information out at this stage, so please check back soon to see more!
Please check back soon to see our ever expanding list of reasons why you should object to Taunton BID.
What is a BID? Here’s a good explainer
BIDs in towns, cities and districts across the UK are normally proposed by a handful of self appointed individuals, often with no previous experience or qualifications, who decide on which businesses to include in a ballot averaging 300-400 votes per BID.
BIDs are being allowed to creep in via undemocratic ballots where central Government and local authorities endorse, and give financial backing to “VOTE YES TO BID” campaigns only, whilst ignoring and/or undermining any attempt at a NO campaign. There is no minimum turnout required (apart from 25% Scotland) councils are given multiple votes and though the manipulated statistics imply otherwise the vast majority of businesses do not cast their vote mainly due to lack of knowledge via inadequate consultation. Therefore many BIDs exist on a yes vote of less than 20%-30% of all businesses forced to pay the levy.
Once voted into power the annual BID levy is mandatory for each business (every 5 yrs another undemocratic re-ballot takes place, with blackmail tactics regularly in place threatening the withdrawal of perceived essential services unless the vote is yes)
This TAX is then given to a private limited company to spend how they wish, often on Council baseline services that have ceased to exist, and isn’t subject to the governance of local authorities, nor the Freedom of Information Act or local government Ombudsmen not even an obligation to post full audited accounts!
The Department of Communities and Local Government BID regulations are woefully inadequate and have allowed a culture of lack of BID accountability and transparency to run rife throughout the UK with no independent regulator to oversee this growing power base of privatisation of services to our communities made possible via a fast expanding industry of unregulated BID consultation/management companies.
Many businesses have little or no idea about BIDs or the implications to them personally.