Final stockton bid proposal

stocktonBID
Business Improvement District
Ballot Open 22 April - 19 May 2016
www.stocktonbid.co.uk
Ballot Open 22 April - 19 May 2016
www.stocktonbid.co.uk
hlc0038 Photograph on page 3 by Chapman Brown Photography
Contact Information
The Rediscover Stockton Shop
134b High Street, StocktonTown Centre,TS18 1LP
Tel: 07900 608 085
Email: chris@stocktonbid.co.uk
Proposal for a
Stockton
Vote
Yes!Vote
Yes!
stocktonBID

2
Contents
VoteYES! | 22 April - 19 May | 3
What could the Business Improvement
District do for Stockton? 5
What is a Business Improvement District (BID)? 11
Why is there a need for a BID in Stockton? 11
What you told us are your priorities for
the town. 12
Where is the area covered by the BID? 13
How will the BID be funded? 14
Who will manage the BID? 18
How will we know if it’s working? 19
Who will decide whether or not there will
be a BID? 19
When will the decision be made? 20
How much would it cost you? 21
What happens after the vote? 23
This is a summary of the Stockton BID Proposal. For more information please
refer to the Stockton BID Business Plan 2016 - 2021 available to view and
download at: www.stocktonbid.co.uk or you can request a copy by writing to:
The Stockton BID Co-ordinator, The Rediscover Stockton Shop,
134B High Street, Stockton Town Centre
Stockton TS18 1LP
8 chris@stocktonbid.co.uk
( 07900 608 085
“Stockton is an exciting place to be right now.We have
a fabulous town centre with a fantastic choice of shops
and businesses and some of the region’s most attractive
public spaces.The high street, the riverside and the
historic yards and lanes linking them together should be
the envy of our competitors.We have huge potential
in Stockton but to release it we need the businesses
to work together and be part of this initiative. It’s time
to stop talking about what we could do and put our
resources together to make it happen right now!”
Jemma Radestock, Store Manager, Marks and Spencer
and Chair of Stockton BID Steering Group
2 |VoteYES! | 22 April - 19 May

What could the Business Improvement District do for Stockton
town centre?
VoteYES! | 22 April - 19 May | 5
6 good reasons to support the BID:
1 Business Leadership - local businesses will run the BID.
2 New investment - 400+ businesses collectively investing over £1million.
3 Action - the ring-fenced fund means business priorities will be addressed.
4 Economies of scale - more can be achieved for less by working together.
5 Additional - BID activities will not duplicate existing public services.
6 Influence - the BID can be a significant business voice with real influence.
1 To market and promote Stockton as one
of England’s premier market towns, with a
distinctive offer of shops, markets & events, as
well as some of the best entertainment, leisure
and recreation in the region;
2 To make Stockton town centre an accessible
and convenient destination for residents,
visitors and workers throughout the day and in
the evenings;
3 To encourage enterprise in Stockton, filling
empty units with new or expanding businesses
to grow the town’s offer and to continue to
improve its overall appeal;
4 To develop the town centre as a customer-
friendly environment where shoppers and
visitors can feel relaxed and enjoy themselves
during the daytime and in the evenings;
5 To build, through the BID, an effective
partnership between the town’s businesses,
organisations and the local authority for the
benefit of Stockton’s businesses and wider
community.
The Stockton BID will deliver on 5 objectives.These are:
4 |VoteYES! | 22 April - 19 May

Convenient
VoteYES! | 22 April - 19 May | 76 |VoteYES! | 22 April - 19 May
Businesses working together for Stockton
The Stockton BID will fund a programme of projects
and activities with clear purpose to generate more
footfall and improve trading conditions across the town
centre, but the BID will do much more than fund new
activities.The BID will deliver its aims and objectives by
bringing businesses together to make better use of the
resources already in the town, influencing the decisions
that affect their businesses and services, and being
proactive in selling all that is good about the town.
The priorities and programme for Stockton’s Business
Improvement District can be described in summary as 5
‘C’s: Confident, Convenient, Competitive,
Customer-friendly and Co-ordinated.
Confident
The impression that people have of a place can be
significant to its economic success as people make
decisions on what they see, what they hear and what
they read. People’s perceptions of Stockton as a place
to live, work or visit can be influenced by images seen
in the media, by conversations between friends, and the
experiences they have when visiting the town centre.
The businesses in Stockton town centre want to be in
a place with a clear identity and to project a positive
image that promotes all that the town centre offers in
a smart and professional manner that shows growing
confidence.
The BID will implement a comprehensive
multi-media campaign to publicise and promote the
shops and services in Stockton town centre, to be
delivered in 3 parts:
i) Identity and brand
Creation of distinctive identity and brand for the
advertising and place marketing of Stockton town
centre.
ii) Stockton online
Development of a consumer website and dedicated
town centre App including directory of shops,
services, live promotions, incentives, discount
vouchers, etc.
The development of a digital marketing strategy
and co-ordinated social media campaign including
promotions, incentives & discounts to raise
awareness of the town centre offer and encourage
more visits.
iii) Events & street entertainment
Sponsorship and promotion for specific events &
street entertainment where these raise the profile
of Stockton town centre in the media.
The businesses in Stockton town centre want their
customers to arrive at their doors as conveniently as
possible, whether they arrive by car, by public transport
or any other mode. Town centre businesses need to be
able to compete on more of a level playing field with
the supermarkets and the retail parks where customers
take advantage of the free parking.With the choices
available, the convenience and price of visiting Stockton
town centre may determine where customers choose
to go for their goods and services.
As an important part of the BID’s aim to increase
footfall in the town centre, the BID will introduce
schemes to encourage customers to rediscover
Stockton by increasing awareness of the relatively low
cost of parking in the town, and where the best deals
are for discounts and offers on car park charges, and bus
and rail fares.
Making it easier for residents, visitors and workers to
access Stockton town centre throughout the day, and in
the evening, will be delivered in 2 parts:
i) Car parking incentives
Working closely with Stockton Borough Council,
and cooperating with the shopping centres, the
Stockton BID will introduce more incentives for
people to visit and use the town centre.The BID
will devote a part of its budget to increase the
frequency of specific car parking promotions and
offers, using local knowledge of the type of initiative
that has proved successful, such as ‘Free After 3’,
‘First Hour Free’, or ‘Buy One Get One Free’ to
encourage visitors to come to the town centre, to
park and to stay longer.
The promotions will need to be flexible, to allow
the BID to draw on the lessons learned from
successful car parking initiatives tested elsewhere
and the freedom to negotiate the best possible deal
for the businesses of Stockton town centre.
ii) Public transport information and incentives
Stockton BID will also raise awareness of the public
transport options, as well as encouraging and
incentivising people from across the surrounding
area to visit and use the town centre.The BID
will work with the service providers to promote
greater patronage of public transport into the
town centre, and seek to influence the level and
frequency of services into the centre.

Customer-Friendly
Competitive
The BID will deliver a three-pronged approach to drive
forward the competiveness of the town centre by
improving the appearance and viability of the businesses
and the place.
Firstly, it will address the concerns about empty shop
units and vacant premises by sponsoring a new initiative
to encourage new and expanding businesses to grow
and thrive in Stockton.This can combine the need
to stimulate new entrepreneurial activity in the town
centre with the need to change perceptions about
the town’s future. Filling shops and offices with people
who just need a helping hand to try out their ideas will
extend Stockton’s retail and services offer and create
a more attractive destination for local shoppers and
visitors.
Secondly, the BID will continue the work to improve
the appearance of the town centre by encouraging new
and expanding businesses to fill the vacant premises and
consequently extending Stockton’s retail and services
offer.
Thirdly, the BID will create the opportunity for
businesses to make potential cost savings through bulk
purchase, using the BID as a means to
co-ordinate a brand new scheme that could save on the
costs of running a business in the town centre.
Helping the town centre to become more competitive
will be delivered in 3 parts:
i) Filling empty premises
Devise and implement a shop-filling strategy,
cooperating with landlords, their agents and the
local authority to match businesses to vacant
premises and, where practical, to assist with
their initial set up such as facilitating new
pop-up shops through purchase and loan of
equipment or other practical means to allow
new and expanding businesses to trial their
business idea in the town centre.
ii) Taking pride in our town
A new initiative between businesses and the
community, sponsoring projects and activities
that contribute to brightening up the town
centre, with a specific focus on the yards and
streets surrounding the High Street.
iii) Improving business viability
Create opportunities for businesses to benefit
from bulk purchase by establishing a scheme
for businesses in the town centre to pay for
trade waste, recycling, insurance, advertising,
decorating and other essentials as part of a
group.
A common complaint arising during consultations in
Stockton referred to the harmful consequences of
anti-social behaviour and the damage to the town’s
reputation arising from incidents of petty crime and
public nuisance.
The BID will contribute to efforts to promote a
customer-friendly environment, helping businesses to
be vigilant and aware of any potential problems.The
BID will do this by enhancing existing networks and
helping to equip them to respond to any concerns,
thereby reducing the risks and potential harm to
businesses in the town centre.
This will be delivered in 3 parts:
i) Awareness raising
Plan and implement a campaign to make
businesses, their staff and customers aware of
activities already in place in Stockton town centre
to maintain a safe and welcoming environment.
ii) Training
Support the delivery of a deterrent training
scheme for staff and volunteers operating across
Stockton town centre.
iii) Support Network
Work with partners to extend and enhance the
security system across the BID area, in addition
to the existing CCTV and Community Safety
Officers, to deliver a safe and customer-friendly
environment for everyone.
“Working for a local charity which has
been serving the people of Stockton for
over 30 years, I believe that anything that
improves the local environment, and helps
local people to use and enjoy the town’s
facilities is very important in strengthening
the community spirit and pride we all have
in this place. By working together under a
BID structure, businesses, independents and
nationals, charities and others can combine
our collective energies and drive to return
Stockton back to its’ rightful place as one
of the most iconic and popular high streets
in the North East, a Business Improvement
District has the potential to be a key
element in that goal.”
Chris Butler, Five Lamps

What is a Business Improvement
District (BID)?
Co-ordinated
Stockton town centre can make more of its
potential to be a vibrant town centre into the
evening, particularly as a place for food, drink &
entertainment catering for a variety of age groups
and tastes.
Working towards a safe and welcoming town
centre, where shoppers, visitors and workers can
feel relaxed and enjoy themselves in the evenings
will be delivered in 2 parts:
i) Food & Drink Week
A new collaboration between the businesses
to promote all that the town centre offers in
the evening.
ii) Alive After Five
Co-ordinated programme of regular events,
live music and entertainment to bring Stockton
town centre to life.
The implementation of these 5 ‘C’s represents
a package of projects and activities that on their
own would have only limited impact. By delivering
these together the impact could be expected to be
more substantial, not least because the projects and
activities proposed are mostly connected and inter-
dependent.The co-ordinated approach of the BID
is designed to address the priorities set out by the
town’s businesses and address them in a way that
can create a real buzz and excitement in the town,
to generate enthusiasm and make Stockton a place
that even more people will want to come to.
The Business Improvement District (or BID) is
a business-led initiative that takes advantage of
government legislation giving local businesses the power
to raise their own funds to spend on their priorities in
order to improve their trading environment.
As the name suggests, the BID must be a precisely
defined geographical area of a town, city, or commercial
district where the business ratepayers are invited
to vote on a proposal to invest collectively in local
improvements that are additional to those currently
provided by local government.
Why is there a need for a BID in
Stockton?
Several challenges facing businesses in Stockton town
centre can also be found in many other town and city
centres across the UK. A variety of social, economic,
technological and political factors seem to be conspiring
against the places we have traditionally used for our
shopping and services.An increasing number of those
places are recognising that the customers that many
once took for granted will diminish in number unless
there is a concerted effort to keep hold of them.
There are now over 200 BIDs across the UK, and their
numbers are growing, reflecting a trend towards a well
organised, professionally-managed trading environment
that should be better equipped to compete and prosper.
In Stockton town centre the businesses owners,
managers and other key stakeholders have shared
their thoughts and perspectives on what are the
main challenges facing their particular businesses and
organisations.They have also set out several “shared”
priorities that demand immediate attention.These
priorities provide the basis for this proposal and they are
used to set the agenda for the Business Improvement
District.
“I think this really does give the business
community, if we all pull together, a real
opportunity to help make Stockton
the thriving and bustling environment it
deserves to be.”
Jason Maxwell,The Buttery
“The BID initiative shows a fantastic
appetite for local businesses to work
together to maximise the potential
of Stockton’s existing assets, further
increasing the social, economic and
cultural health of the town.”
Annabel Turpin, Chief Executive,ARC

“The BID will help to unite
independents with chains so
that we all have a say in what
happens in the town centre.”
Amey McGrogan, Mini
Munchkins
What you told us are your priorities for the town centre Where is the area covered by the BID?
Over 100 written submissions have been received from businesses in Stockton during the summer and autumn of
2015.The most common points are summarised below and illustrated with just some of the actual comments received.
The Stockton BID area will focus on the town centre.
The Challenges The Positives The Priorities for Action
“how we can work together to improve
Stockton.”
“Stockton businesses need more
advertising.”
“Town is empty on an evening or late
afternoon.”
“a busier, happier place to visit.”
“rebrand is needed to promote Stockton
as a quality shopping experience.”
“Make it easier and cheaper to park.”
“Giving customers at least 1 hour free
parking.”
“Difficult bus journey from Ingleby
Barwick & a massive amount of people
who live here.”
“Tidying up and ‘smartening’ areas in and
around the town such as old shop fronts.”
“Aim to fill empty units.”
“Cheaper rent/rates to fill shops.”
“Work together for a safe night life in
Stockton.”
“Deter beggars, nuisance behaviour, etc.”
“Zero tolerance with begging, crime,
people on bikes, litter.”
“Focus on what great shops
we have, not what we
haven’t got.”
“Widest High Street in
England!”
“The market.”
“The riverside.”
“Stockton is small enough to
give good quality customer
service and something
different.”
“The fountains are a big
attraction to all. The
Stockton flyer - when it
arrives.”
“Pleasant, friendly, great
history.”
“Flat accessible shopping
for those with mobility
difficulties.”
Marketing & promotion of Stockton
town centre and what it offers.
“All retailers to come together in a
shared approach to marketing and
business promotions.”
“Better advertising of what’s available
in the town.”
Convenient & affordable access to
the town centre throughout day &
evening.
“Try promoting the free hour parking.”
Filling empty units and brightening the
appearance of the town centre.
“Biggest priority is filling vacant units to
entice shoppers in.”
Creating a pleasant, welcoming town
centre throughout the day & evening.
“[welcome] any initiatives that reduce/
discourage the low level anti-social/
aggressive behaviour evident during
the day on and around the high street.”

The BID will be funded in two ways:
i) BID Levy Income
The BID Levy will be calculated at one and a half
percent (1.5%) of the current RateableValue (using
latest availableValuation Office Agency survey
data) for each property. There will be no annual
inflation increase. The BID levy once calculated will
be charged as a flat rate i.e. the amount will not
change, for the 5 years duration of this Business
Plan.
The BID Levy will apply to all properties
(hereditaments) within the defined BID area with
the exception of hereditaments with a Rateable
Value of less than £5,000 and premises categorised
as community centres or non-trading charitable
organisations in receipt of charitable relief. For
instance, charities with shops and/or cafes on the
premises are trading and will be charged because
they are expected to benefit from marketing
and improvements to the town centre and it is
expected that the majority will want to play an
equal role in the local business community.
The Stockton BID area includes 440 hereditaments
with a RateableValue of £5,000 and over. Their
combined RateableValue (RV) is a calculation
based on the existing RV survey information. The
combined RateableValue is £14,137,450. The levy
can raise £212,062 gross per annum or £1,060,309
over the 5 year term of the Stockton BID.
How will the BID be funded? ii) Other funding
The Stockton BID will not be limited to income
derived from the BID Levy and can expect to raise
further funds from:
• voluntary contributions;
• grants;
• sponsorship & advertising revenue.
The Stockton BID can attract these other funds
towards specific items or activities identified within
the programme of projects as part of the delivery of
the Business Plan. In particular, businesses within the
town and surrounding borough will be encouraged
to support the implementation of the Stockton
BID and its considerable potential to deliver wider
benefits both to the town and to theTeesValley area.
Voluntary contributions can help to ensure that the
benefits of activities such as marketing extend to
areas beyond the defined BID area.
Stockton BID creates a significant fund that has the
potential to draw in further investment, including
grant assistance from government as well as other
sources such as the National Lottery and other grant
distributing bodies.
Some of the projects can also expect to attract
sponsorship, again for specific items or activities that
bring corporate benefits e.g. the sponsorship of the
town’s festivals or online applications.
The total income for the delivery of this 5 year
programme based on income both from the BID
Levy and from other contributions will be at least £1
million.
The programme budget aims to achieve around
80% of resources being spent directly on the project
outputs and activities as described above, although
there will inevitably be some initial setting up costs
in year one. The costs of administering the BID will
include:
• BID levy collection administration fee;
• Setting up (including registering and insuring) the
Stockton BID Company;
• Professional fees such as an accountant;
• Advertising for, and contracting, the services of
a part-time BID Manager to commission and
manage the delivery of projects and activities set
out in the BID business plan (Refer to the 5 ‘C’s).
“We aim to provide a shopping experience
that showcases our great community spirit,
convenience for locals and good value,
as well as easy and enjoyable for all.The
proposal for a town centre BID clearly
shares these aims and that is why we will
be votingYES.”
Karen Eve, Manager, Castlegate Shopping
Centre
Stockton International
Riverside Festival 2015

“A Business Improvement District will give businesses and organisations in
Stockton-on-Tees the opportunity to share with a wider audience what a great variety
of shops, markets and events we have to offer. No one understands the needs of our
customers and clients more so than the local business community. Working together
on this £1million investment gives us an opportunity to change public perception of
Stockton-on-Tees, so it becomes their first choice town.”
Janice Auton, Owner, Poppys Hairdressing
The costs of collection, are estimated by Stockton Borough Council to be £15,000 per year. The forecast expenditure
plan has been calculated using the Non-Domestic Rates data, correct at 1 September 2015 and summarised below:
BID budget forecast for the 5 year term
INCOME 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21 Total £
BID Levy 212,062 212,062 212,062 212,062 212,061 1,060,309
Other Funding 8,000 8,000 8,000 8,000 8,000 40,000
TOTAL 220,062 220,062 220,062 220,062 220,061 1,100,309
EXPENDITURE 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21 Total
1. Confident 50,000 60,000 70,000 80,000 90,000 350,000
2. Convenient 40,000 40,000 40,000 40,000 40,000 200,000
3. Competitive 20,000 30,000 32,000 33,000 35,000 150,000
4. Customer-
friendly
6,000 12,000 13,000 14,000 15,000 60,000
5. Co-ordinated 10,000 12,000 14,000 16,000 18,000 70,000
BID Running
Costs*
40,412 41,412 42,412 43,413 44,645 212,294
Start-up costs 5,000 0 0 0 0 5,000
Contingency
5%
10,603 10,603 10,603 10,603 10,603 53,015
TOTAL 182,015 206,015 222,015 237,016 253,248 1,100,309
Balance c/f 38,047 52,094 50,141 33,187 0
* with annual uplift for inflation.
VoteYES! | 22 April - 19 May |1716 |VoteYES! | 22 April - 19 May
BudgetYear 1: September 2016 to August 2017
INCOME EXPENDITURE
BID Levy 212,062 1. Confident 50,000
Voluntary contributions & grants 8,000 2. Convenient 40,000
3. Competitive 20,000
4. Customer-friendly 6,000
5. Co-ordinated 10,000
SUB-TOTAL PROJECT COSTS 126,000
Administration (Project delivery) 25,412
Administration (Levy collection) 15,000
Start-up costs 5,000
SUB-TOTAL RUNNING COSTS 40,412
Contingency 10,603
TOTAL 220,062 TOTAL 182,015

“Santander’s support for the Stockton BID
is entirely consistent with our commitment
to the healthy high streets initiative, to
breathe new life into our town centres and
revitalise the high street.”
Tony Grainger, Local Business Manager,
Santander VoteYES! | 22 April - 19 May | 1918 |VoteYES! | 22 April - 19 May
Subject to the outcome of the ballot, the Stockton
BID will be implemented through the creation of a
Stockton BID Company.This not-for-profit body will be
registered as a company limited by guarantee with a
board of directors drawn from, and representative of,
the diverse business and organisational interests within
the BID area.All businesses eligible to vote in the BID
ballot will be invited to nominate themselves or other
eligible persons to be considered for directorship and
to be part of the BID company board.This is planned
to be a board of 10-16 members to be representative
of the diverse business interests across the town -
to be specified in the BID Company’s Articles of
Association.
The Stockton BID Company and Board of Directors
will be accountable to the BID levy payers for the
delivery of the Stockton BID business plan and
proposed arrangements.
The Stockton BID Company Board of Directors will
meet regularly. Every levy-paying business will be
eligible to be a member of the BID and vote at Annual
General Meetings on the activities of the Stockton BID.
The Board will appoint a person to manage operations
and work with businesses and the appropriate agencies
to oversee the delivery of the programme of projects.
The Stockton BID area and the levy percentage cannot
be altered without an alteration ballot. However, the
BID projects, costs and timescales can be altered subject
to the Stockton BID Company Board of Director’s
approval and providing that changes fall within the
income of the BID and do not compromise the efforts
to achieve the BID’s stated aims and objectives.
Who will manage the BID?
The performance and effectiveness of the BID will require
careful monitoring to ensure that the money from the
BID levy payers is being used productively in the delivery
of the BID Business Plan throughout the 5 year term. The
Stockton BID board will use a toolkit of key performance
indicators to monitor and review progress, using the
information to make adjustments and allocate resources
between the budget headings where there is a sound
business case to do so.
Key performance indicators will initially include the
following:
• Total number of commercial units - rateable
properties within BID area
• Number of vacant units - regular survey by number
and business use
• Number of markets/traders - regular survey
• Footfall - regular footfall survey
• Car parking - availability and usage survey
• Business confidence - regular survey
• Town centre users/customer survey - regular survey
• Shoppers origin - postcode survey
This list is not exhaustive and may be added to at the
discretion of the BID company board.
“I welcome the opportunity to work
with my local business community to
collectively agree what we need to do
to compete and grow Stockton as a
destination. I believe a BID with specific
shared objectives can make a measured
difference to all businesses in Stockton.”
Louise Knapton, Store Manager, Boots
How will we know if it’s working?
The ballot will be conducted through a confidential
postal vote. Ballot papers will be sent to all persons
entitled to vote, defined as Non-Domestic Ratepayers
for hereditaments within the defined Business
Improvement District (refer to map) where the
RateableValue of the property is £5,000 and above,
and who are ratepayers on the day of the publication
of the formal 42 days’ notice of ballot.
Where a person has more than one hereditament
within a BID area, that person will get a vote for each
hereditament.A proxy vote is available and details will
be sent out with ballot papers.
The BID levy will not apply to hereditaments with a
RateableValue below £5,000 and those hereditaments
occupied by non-trading, charitable organisations such
as community centres.These hereditaments will be
exempt from the BID levy and will not be eligible to
vote.
For the BID to be established there must be a majority
vote in favour of the BID Proposal.This must satisfy two
tests:
• A simple majority by number of those voting and;
• Those voting in favour must represent a majority
of the aggregate rateable value.
Who will decide whether or not
there will be a Stockton BID?
“Stockton is a key location for
Darlington Building Society and the
investment in our Branch means that we
have excellent space to share with our
Members and organisations in theTown.”
Colin Fyfe, Chief Executive, Darlington
Building Society

The final date of the ballot is scheduled forThursday
19 May 2016.The postal ballot papers will be issued to
eligible voters at least 28 days in advance of this date.
The result of the ballot will be announced on Friday 20
May or whenever is practicable thereafter.
“Stockton High Street is full of enterprising
and established businesses.Working
collaboratively across all sectors will
strengthen links and we can be a stronger
force working together for the future of our
High Street.”
Helen Simmons, Hewitts Solicitors
When will the decision be made?
A BID levy, calculated as 1.5% (one and a half percent)
of the RateableValue of each property (hereditament)
will be charged to each qualifying ratepayer. The BID
levy will be set by 1st August 2016 based on the most
current Non-Domestic Ratings list and will, thereafter,
be charged annually at a flat rate for the full 5 year
term of the BID. The levy may only be updated for
changes in ratepayer, appeals, additions or removals.
The BID levy will be charged to any new
ratepayers where they will be occupying properties
(hereditaments) within the BID area (map refers)
and within the five year term of the BID, even though
they did not vote on the initial proposal. Likewise, any
new rateable property created during the lifetime of
the BID will be obliged to pay the levy provided they
are within the BID boundary and do not meet the
exemption criteria. If a business ratepayer occupies
premises for less than one year, the amount of BID levy
payable will be calculated pro rata on a daily basis.
The BID levy will not be payable for the first three
months that a property is empty; this is extended to
six months for industrial premises such as warehouses,
factories, distribution centres, thereafter the full BID
levy will apply regardless of changes of ownership/
tenant.
The BID levy will not be affected by the Small Business
Rate Relief or Charitable Rate Relief schemes and
businesses who already pay service charges to
landlords will not receive any discount.The registered
business ratepayer will be entitled to vote and also
obliged to pay the BID levy with no void period.
The BID levy will not apply to hereditaments with
a RateableValue below £5,000 and hereditaments
occupied by non-trading, charitable organisations such
as community centres.
For the majority (62%) of businesses above the £5,000
threshold, the financial contribution to the BID will
be equivalent to less than £1 per day, or the cost of a
small snack bar. Only 14% of levy paying businesses will
be expected to pay an amount that exceeds the cost
of a daily cup of coffee (£2.20).
How much will it cost you?

“We opened our new venue, the Wasp’s
Nest bar, in StocktonTown Centre in
June 2015. Since then trade has been
steadily growing, but there are times
when it is quiet, particularly midweek
evenings.
These kind of initiatives helping to
bring families and new customers into
the town, creating a family friendly
environment, are just what is needed.
There is always a big increase in trade
when events like SIRF, Fireworks night,
and Christmas markets are on, so more
activity will be very welcome!”
Shaun Crake, Owner,The Wasps Nest
The comparisons above are used to illustrate one of the benefits of businesses working together in large numbers.The
Stockton BID is a formal arrangement where all businesses can be required to pay but, in so doing, the financial burden
is shared or spread and this keeps the contributions of each individual business to a minimum.
RateableValue (RV) Annual cost @ 1.5% RV Weekly cost equivalent Daily cost equivalent
< £5,000 Nil Nil Nil
£5,000 £75 £1.44 20p
£10,000 £150 £2.88 41p
£15,000 £225 £4.33 62p
£25,000 £375 £7.21 £1.03
£50,000 £750 £14.42 £2.06
£75,000 £1,125 £21.63 £3.09
£100,000 £1,500 £28.84 £4.12
£250,000 £3,750 £72.11 £10.30
£500,000 £7,500 £144.23 £20.60
What happens after the vote?
During the period from the declaration of the result
on or around 20 May 2016 to the commencement
date on 1 September 2016, the Chair of the BID
Steering Group (the ‘BID Proposer’) will liaise with
Stockton Borough Council to put in place the
administration and billing systems for collecting the
BID levy and its transfer to the BID Company accounts
(via an Operating Agreement).The Steering Group
will also run the recruitment process to appoint the
first Directors for the BID Company. Details of this,
including the nomination papers, will be sent out to all
those eligible for the BID levy.
“It will be a vital, and landmark moment in Stockton’s future if we become a Business
Improvement District. It provides a unique, and extremely empowering opportunity to
our businesses, to decide, and action a continual growth plan.There is a reason why BIDs
are successful worldwide, and although we’ve come a long way as a town, in my eyes, this
is the last push. There is an incredible amount of insight, knowledge and passion within
our town businesses, a BID will bring all of that together and march us forward, with the
ultimate aim of growing how we should, and deserve to as a town.”
Joanna Wake, Managing Director, RAW Digital Training
“The BID can make a positive difference
to many businesses, including ours, by
introducing a co-ordinated and managed
programme of promotions and events
to encourage more people to enjoy an
evening out in Stockton town centre.”
Wendy Sayers, Owner, Mohujos

Final stockton bid proposal

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