A ballot is to be held to decide the future of Stoke-on-Trent City Centre Business Improvement District.
The BID, which was set up to support businesses and help attract more shoppers and visitors, is approaching the end of its first five-year term.
It was created with backing from city centre organisations across retail, commercial, leisure, hospitality and public sectors and is funded through a levy based on business rateable value.
From 2018 to 2023, it has delivered over 50 pieces of new artwork in the city centre, 2,800 hours of events and activities and 90,000 City Centre Ambassador visits to keep local businesses informed and engaged.
It has also helped deliver financial support for companies to join PABCIS anti-business crime initiative and arranged cardboard collections and the deep cleaning of grime and graffiti.
All eligible businesses within the Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID area will be invited to vote on whether they wish the BID to continue for a further five years.
The first day of the ballot, which is being run by Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s electoral services department, will be 9th June 2023 with the last chance to cast a vote by 5pm on 6th July.
BID Chairman Jonathan Bellamy said: “We know that businesses need support now, so we actively work to improve the look and feel of our City Centre, provide a yearly calendar of activities to drive footfall and provide our businesses with tools and services to help them be the best they can.
“BIDs are the vital voice of the high street and advocates of what matters to businesses. They lobby, they promote, they market and they work hard for the needs of the business community they represent. I am proud of what has been established, but now it is time to press forward and raise our game further.”
Business can learn more about the organisation’s plan for the next five years by reading the BID vision document.
