North Yorkshire Council has announced it will not use its voting power to influence ballots on the creation of business improvement districts (BIDs).
The purpose of BIDs is to boost economic activity within their area, and they are funded by an additional levy on local business ratepayers. In Harrogate, the 1.5% levy raises more than £500,000 a year.
BIDs are created following a majority vote by these ratepayers, which include local authorities. Because councils own so much town-centre property, they typically wield considerable voting power.
Harrogate BID was first created in 2018 after business ratepayers voted for it, and the result was in part due to the support and votes of Harrogate Borough Council. Ripon BID was created in 2021, also in part due to the support of the council.
But when Harrogate BID came up for renewal in 2023, North Yorkshire Council – Harrogate Borough Council’s successor – chose not get involved, leaving it to businesses to decide. That vote went through with 76% in favour; the council’s backing would have added a further 12% to that figure.
In its latest announcement, which was prompted by a vote on the Yorkshire Coast BID, North Yorkshire Council has maintained that stance and formalised it.
A decision of the chief executive published this week stated:
“The council is aware that due to its rateable value across North Yorkshire, that if it were to vote there is a risk that it could have a disproportionate impact on the outcome of the ballot. It is estimated that North Yorkshire may hold around 10% of the voting value for the YC BID.
“The council therefore intends to abstain in the forthcoming Yorkshire Coast ballot, or other future BID levy ballots across North Yorkshire, to limit its influence and ensure it is businesses who determine the outcome.”
Locally, the decision affects Harrogate and Ripon, where BIDs are already in place, and may in the future affect Knaresborough, if businesses there decide to create one. They narrowly voted against the idea in 2021.
In Harrogate, town centre businesses will next be able to vote on whether or not to fund Harrogate BID for a third term in 2028. Ripon BID comes up for renewal in 2026.
Read more:
- Harrogate BID to provide grants to upgrade storefronts
- Primark store manager becomes chair of Harrogate BID
- Trading Hell: ‘Report crime so we can cut crime’, says BID manager
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Prime Minister Rishi Sunak makes surprise visit to RiponRipon received a surprise visitor when Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arrived for an unannounced hour-long walkabout and meetings with local businesses and politicians.
Yesterday’s Totally Locally street party organised by the city’s independent traders and supported by Ripon Business Improvement District, provided a platform for Mr Sunak, along with Keane Duncan, the Conservative Party candidate for next month’s York and North Yorkshire mayoral election, to mingle with crowds on Market Square.
The Bank Holiday Monday event, which was launched last year, is designed to raise awareness of what the ancient city has to offer in a modern-day economy.
BID manager Lilla Bathurst, said:
“The Prime Minister was able to see for himself what the collaborative efforts of Ripon’s strong mix of independent retail and hospitality businesses can achieve.
“There are clear indicators, both in terms of the investment in new openings and refurbishments in the city centre and footfall analysis, that a post-pandemic revival is underway.”
City councillor and deputy mayor elect Jackie Crozier (pictured below) whose award-winning Little Bird Made artisan markets are held on Market Square and locations across Yorkshire, introduced Mr Sunak to coffee maker Tom Bolland of the Happy Barista — a regular attendee at the Little Bird events.
For 11-year-old Lilly, daughter of Ripon City Council leader Andrew Williams, there was an opportunity for a photograph with Mr Sunak outside Ripon’s historic town hall.
Rishi Sunak, pictured with Cllr Andrew Williams and his daughter Lilly.
Cllr Williams said:
“There’s an interesting fact that links our current Prime Minster with one dating back to 1827, because the Marquess of Ripon, who donated the town hall building to the then borough council in 1897 after two terms as mayor of the city, was born at 10 Downing Street while his father Viscount Goderich was in office.”
Mayoral candidates
The election for the first mayor of the York and North Yorkshire combined authority will take place on Thursday May 2 and, in addition to the Conservative Keane Duncan, the other candidates are:
- Felicity Cunliffe-Lister (Lib Dem)
- Kevin Foster (Green Party)
- Paul Haslam (Independent)
- David Skaith (Labour),
- Keith Tordoff (Independent)
