‘As transparent as a brick wall’: British firms fight back against ‘Business Improvement Districts’

As councils tighten their purse strings and strip services back to the basics amid a worsening local authority financial crisis, it is things such as flowerbeds, street cleaning, events and signs that go on the budget chopping block first.

But a backlash is growing against Bids, with dozens of cases across the UK of people refusing to make the mandatory payments and ending up in court as a result.

Angry business owners argue that Bids are being created in towns and cities without proper consent, and that there is a lack of clarity about how funds are spent and how much value they add to the local area.

In Stratford-on-Avon, a group of businesses are appealing to the levelling up secretary, Michael Gove, to reverse the renewal of the Bid there following a vote in February, arguing the ballot was not held correctly.

Of the 217 votes cast in favour, almost 70 were from Scarborough and East Riding councils, which collect the tax on behalf of the Bid, as their car parks and public toilets are classed as businesses.

My offence is refusing to give away my money to somebody I don’t know, so that they can do with it as they please Harry Scott, hotelier Local councils have agreed to abstain from voting in the Bid renewal ballot this year, which will also exempt retail businesses.