Editor’s Pick of the Week: Temperatures rise at Knaresborough business meetingKnaresborough businesses plan next step to revive townKnaresborough businesses to form group to revive High StreetKnaresborough BID to be hot topic at business meeting this weekendKnaresborough BID debate rekindled as meeting is called by anonymous emailerEditor’s Pick of the Week: Tim Stedman returns, Knaresborough intrigue and a sleeping councillorKnaresborough councillors reject call to prevent second BID vote

Town councillors in Knaresborough have rejected a motion to prevent traders having another vote on creating a business improvement district until 2026.

Knaresborough firms voted against setting up a BID by 80 votes to 73 in October 2021.

But the creation of a Facebook group called Get the BID for Knaresborough Back on Track has led to suggestions some businesses could push for another ballot.

If firms vote to set up a BID — as has happened in Harrogate and Ripon — town centre traders pay an annual levy to support schemes that boost footfall.

Cllr Kathryn Davies, a Conservative who represents Aspin and Calcutt, proposed the motion at this week’s full council meeting.

She said BID terms lasted five years and there should be “parity in the time lapse” between ballots when one is rejected.

Cllr Davies said another ballot would ignite “old tensions” and the motion would “bring some calmness to the situation”. She added:

“Businesses in the town will have the certainty of no additional taxes for that period.”

This week’s Knaresborough Town Council meeting.

But Cllr Matt Walker, a Liberal Democrat who was also elected in Aspin and Calcutt, said it could equally be argued the town had lost out on £400,000 of investment the BID levy would have generated and that ultimately it was a decision for traders, not councillors.

Cllr Walker said:

“If the business community wants a BID I’m happy to support them. If they don’t want a BID I’m happy not to support one.”

The Castle Courtyard shopping centre in Knaresborough.

Nobody has formally called for a second ballot and Cllr David Goode, a Liberal Democrat who represents Castle ward, said “it would be madness for any local group to move forward without knowing the majority of local businesses were in favour”.

He added:

“This is not an issue for the town council. This is an issue for the business community.”

The motion failed when John Batt, a Conservative who represents Eastfield, withdrew his support as a seconder to the motion.

Cllr Batt agreed “it’s not our job to dictate to the business community what they should do”.

Read more:

 

Discussions revive idea to create Knaresborough BID

Discussions have begun about reviving the idea of creating a business improvement district in Knaresborough.

Traders in Harrogate and Ripon both voted to have BIDs but Knaresborough firms rejected the idea by 80 votes to 73 two years ago.

However, a Facebook group called Get the BID for Knaresborough back on track has been set up.

Supporters say the move would boost trade and improve the town centre. Opponents say a BID is unnecessary and would reopen wounds.

If a BID is created, town centre businesses with rateable values above £2,500 would pay levies that would generate about £140,000 a year for schemes that increase town centre footfall.

Neil Smith, a disabled former taxi driver who set up the Facebook group, said the BID could improve the town’s notoriously difficult parking and lead on issues such as street cleaning and floral displays.

Mr Smith said his experience as a Blue Badge holder had highlighted how acute town centre parking problems were for people with mobility issues and a BID could push for solutions.

He said:

“If people can’t park, businesses will fail because of lack of footfall.

“If I was a business owner in Knaresborough and could have things like better parking, cleaner streets and a more appealing town centre all for a £1 a day I’d be all for it. Who else is going to do these things?”

‘We don’t want this to happen again’

Knaresborough Business Collective, which was formed in 2021 in response to the failed BID vote, runs various town centre initiatives such as supplying hanging baskets and Christmas trees and organising annual awards.

It published a social media post this week saying there was no need for a BID, and questioning whether another ballot so soon was appropriate. It added:

“It is less than two years since a no majority was received, if a yes majority had been achieved we would not be allowed a revote for five years. I believe the same should be the case now.

“The town was massively divided after BID and we really don’t want this to happen again.”

The post urged businesses to contact Knaresborough Town Council with their views on a second BID vote.

Read more:

Peter Lacey, an executive member of business group Knaresborough and District Chamber, said:

“Chamber has neither initiated nor can comment on an official basis as to whether it would be in support of rerunning the BID process in the town at this time.

“We are focussed on promoting our great town, addressing concerns about the recent installation of electric vehicle charging points in the town in as constructive way as possible, and preparing to work collaboratively across the town to attract new investment through North Yorkshire Council’s shared prosperity funding.”

Knaresborough chamber plans to ‘build back’ after bitter fallout over BID

Knaresborough Chamber of Trade and Commerce has said it is ready to “build back” after a tumultuous two years tackling covid and the divide left following the vote against setting up a BID.

The chamber has begun the new year with a slimmed down executive board, new projects and a commitment to rebuild relationships and collaborate with businesses.

Over the past two years the organisation launched various projects to help businesses through lockdowns and encourage people to visit the town.

But it also found itself at the centre of a bitter debate over the setting up of a Business Improvement District, which divided the organisation. Businesses voted against creating a BID.

The fallout from the BID vote had a lasting effect on the chamber, executive member Peter Lacey said, leading it to reassess how the organisation is run.

Now, instead of having a board with over 10 positions and multiple titles such as chair, secretary and treasurer, the not-for-profit organisation operates with an executive board of five members taking on various responsibilities.

Mr Lacey added a few businesses had left the chamber following the BID vote and it now wanted to re-establish itself as a forum for businesses rather than being overshadowed by political divides. He said:

“There is still an overhang of bad feeling following the BID vote. Sometimes it can take time to build back but we’re happy to work with any business or group that will benefit Knaresborough.”

Read more:

Members have been sent a survey ahead of the first full meeting next month to ask what they think the focus of the upcoming year should be for the chamber.

It has also asked for feedback on ideas, such as more networking events, support for those making working from home permanent, summer events, the local banking hub and devolution.

No. 14: Knaresborough’s bitter battle for a BID

In this article, which is part of a series on the 15 stories in the Harrogate district that shaped 2021, we look at the controversial and ultimately doomed campaign to set up a Business Improvement District in Knaresborough.

The last 12 months have seen turbulent times for businesses in Knaresborough.

There was a fractious battle to set up a Knaresborough Business Improvement District and the town’s chamber of trade underwent a huge shake-up.

Plans to create a BID, similar to ones in Harrogate and Ripon, were hatched before 2021 but the matter came to a head in October when firms were balloted on whether they supported the idea.

If a majority voted in favour, all businesses would have been subject to a levy, which would be spent on schemes to increase football in the town. The BID would have generated £700,000 over five years and seen a limited company set up with 12 directors drawn from the business community to manage the funds.

But 80 out of 153 firms rejected the move and the fallout was bitter. Some opponents to the BID claimed those supporting it had not been transparent and ignored criticism. Some that supported it accused “anti-BID activists” of smearing the campaign.

In the wake of the vote, several high-ranking Knaresborough Chamber of Trade and Commerce committee members, including president, Steve Teggin, and treasurer, Bill Taylor, stepped down. Both men had been strong advocates of the BID.

Mass walk-out

Mr Teggin launched a strongly-worded attack on some of those who opposed the BID in an outgoing letter as president.

His comments did little to ease tensions, and one business owner who attended the chamber meeting that discussed his letter told us about 16 people walked out. Another said the meeting felt “very divided”.

Read more:

After all the fallout, the Stray Ferret asked businesses what they wanted to see going forward. The resounding response was that it was time for greater unity.

Elaine Grinter, Peter Lacey and Kelly Teggin

Elaine Grinter, from Art in the Mill, said businesses must come together to “have their voices heard”. She said this was even more paramount with the upcoming move towards devolution.

Neighbouring business owner Kelly Teggin said she was disappointed the BID wasn’t voted in but added this wouldn’t deter her and other chamber members from ensuring Knaresborough continued to thrive and bring in tourists.

Looking ahead

The chamber is currently being run by five remaining committee members. Peter Lacey, membership secretary, said the chamber wanted to re-focus and put Knaresborough’s economy at the forefront of discussions rather than focus on past disagreements.

There were signs towards the end of the year that things could be improving. Some businesses came together to form a community organisation to put up Christmas trees around the town, after the chamber stopped doing it.

At its next full meeting in January, the chamber’s vacant positions will be discussed and consideration will also be given to merging the roles of chair and president to streamline decision making.

Business owners will certainly be hoping a calmer 12 months lie ahead.