Almost 600 levy-paying businesses and organisations are being asked to decide whether they want the city’s Business Improvement District to operate for a second five-year term.

At stake is a wide range of improvements including a five-year programme of deep-cleaning and hot-washing of city centre streets, graffiti and chewing gum removal; a raft of events and entertainment in the city centre to help boost trade; support and training for businesses and a dedicated campaign of support and development for the hard-hit hospitality and leisure sector and the evening and night-time economy.

The BID’s first term will come to an end later this year and the organisation is asking levy-paying businesses and organisations to support its continuation until at least the end of 2028 by voting ‘Yes’ in the ballot which comes to a close on September 28, with the result announced the following day.

The BID is a limited not-for-profit company funded by a small levy on businesses and organisations within a specified area of the city centre.

It is run by an operating board made up of representatives of all sectors and the levy take is used for projects to help promote and develop the city centre.

The total proceeds of about £2.5 million will be spent across the five years on projects and services over and above those that are provided by Bradford Council.

“That means that if the BID fails to win a second term, those services will disappear altogether,” said Ian Ward, general manager of The Broadway shopping centre and chairman of the BID since its launch.

“There is no other organisation with the capacity or resources the levy-payers provide for the direct benefit of those who use the city centre, whether they live, work, shop or enjoy their leisure time here.

“The businesses understand that it’s a circular investment: the money they spend on making the city centre safer, cleaner, more attractive, better promoted and more alive and entertaining will also help businesses thrive and provide a better offer for all.

“It’s a genuine win-win for customers, residents, employers and employees – even the Council, which knows it cannot afford to replicate the additionality that the BID brings.

“We’re not saying the Council wouldn’t clean the streets – that is, of course, one of its key responsibilities – but in these cash-strapped times it doesn’t have the money to do the sort of in-depth grime removal and spit-and-polish job that it once could.

“Over the last five years, our businesses have shown they are proud to be making that sort of contribution and supporting the local economy directly.”

BID manager Jonny Noble added: “Despite the pandemic and the cost-of-living issues of recent years, we’ve put our heart and soul into doing our best for Bradford and we’d like to think that has been recognised by those businesses taking part in the ballot.

“But we are certainly not complacent and, after extensive and detailed consultation with levy-payers, we’ve put together a new five-year Business Plan which responds to the needs that businesses have identified, with three core strategies: creating a Positive Environment, making the city centre Better For Business and generating a Vibrant Experience.

“We can’t deliver them, though, without the support of businesses who first need to show their approval by voting ‘Yes’ in the ballot which starts today.”

Legally, all BIDs need to be established via a ballot of eligible business and the vote is conducted entirely by post over a 28-day period.

The votes will be sent to either the tenant of the business or the landlord (in the case of vacant units), within the BID boundary and Civica Election Services will be conducting the voting process.

For the BID proposal to be successful, there are two requirements that must be met: A majority of those who vote must have voted in favour, and the total rateable values of the business properties who vote ‘Yes’ must exceed that of those who voted ‘No’.

“Although levy-payers have a month in which to vote, we really need them to cast their votes straight away so we can ensure as many people as possible take part in the ballot,” added Mr Ward.

“We’re not allowed to see how they’ve voted but we can see how many have voted which enables us to strengthen our efforts to ensure we get the widest take-up and the ballot is as fair as it can be.”