Purpose

To agree to vote ‘Yes’ in the Herefordshire County Business Improvement District (HCBID) second term ballot commencing 17 September 2026.  Should the ballot be successful, the Business Improvement District (excluding Hereford City Centre, which has an existing Business Improvement District) will implement its second, five-year term, to support the growth of the tourism and retail sectors across Herefordshire.

Decision

That:

a)    the Director for Growth be authorised to vote in favour of the Herefordshire County Business Improvement District on behalf of the council; and

b)    should the outcome of the ballot support the second, five-year term of Herefordshire County BID, approve the payment of the levy, on liable properties in the council’s ownership, calculated to be £21,398.13 per annum, for a period of five years.

Alternative options considered

1. The council could decide to abstain from voting in the ballot, or to vote ‘no’. It should be noted that, irrespective of which way the council chooses to vote, it will still be required to pay the levy on its properties (hereditaments), should the ballot achieve a successful outcome. It should be further noted that there are benefits to Herefordshire Council and HCBID businesses from the continuation of the BID, which are mentioned later in the report.