The Councils must do the ‘right thing’ and abstain from voting in the BID renewal ballot!
The businesses of Minehead have been told BID is for the businesses, decided on by the business, but how can this be true if block council voting influences the ballot result?
If it is a close vote, council votes could force the BID in even if the true majority of real businesses don’t want BID, is that really right or fair?
For anyone that doesn’t know, both Minehead Town Council and Somerset Council (SWT & old County Council) will have a vote for each hereditament it is the rates payer for in the BID area; that’s every car park, toilet etc it owns falling within the BID criteria, which for the current BID is:
MTC Public Toilets, Warren Road
MTC Shop and Premises, Summerland Road
SCC Minehead Library, Bancks Street
SCC Station Car Park, The Avenue
SWT Carousel (Adj), The Esplanade
SWT Car Park, Summerland Avenue
SWT Car Park, Warren Road
(SCC & SWT is now Somerset Council, so SC has a block of 5 votes)
But the Councils have too much a conflict of interest in BID being voted back in, which makes them a different type of voter, and consequently they should abstain from voting as other Councils around the UK have fairly done.
As we’ve already shown you, MTC has received £58k from BID funds, and SWT were also FOI’d over 2 months ago but have so far refused to reply which speaks for itself. If only other levy payers could ask for money and be given it with such ease! The conflict of interest is clear.
Somerset Council is legislated as a BID partner and MTC has established itself as a BID partner, so they both selfishly want BID businesses being taxed to reduce financial demands on themselves. But the Councils are meant to represent ALL businesses and so also have a moral responsibility to do right by both voting sides of the business community and not show bias.
The only way a fair ballot can be achieved for the Minehead businesses BID is meant to be for, is for both Councils to do the right thing and abstain from voting in order to let the businesses decide for themselves, after all the businesses have been told they will collectively decide on whether to renew the BID or not. How can that be true if the Councils could have the casting vote? We are not even lobbying the Councils to vote no because that wouldn’t be fair on those that want a bit, it cuts both ways.
Soon both Councils will decide how they will vote in the BID ballot, and it was yes votes all round in 2018, but they must do the responsible right thing this time by all businesses and simply abstain in order to let the businesses decide. As levy payers we suggest you lobby your councillors to get them to see sense and do the right thing by ensuring their respective council abstains. If they won’t listen to you and take action, then remember that when you’re voting in local elections. Surely a good Councillor is one that listens, sees and represents the whole of a community?
Also, lobby the BID Board to put a formal request into both Councils to abstain. If they want a fair ballot surely they will do this, shame on the Board if they are happy to win the ballot even if it means relying on Council yes votes deciding the outcome.
If you are a Councillor reading this, it is not a decision based on whether you support the BID, it is a moral one in the name of democracy for a fair ballot by the businesses. The right thing for you to do by your Minehead BID business constituents is ask your own Council to abstain from voting. Even if you support the idea of a BID, you know the ballot decision really should be made by the businesses. You don’t want a BID that has been forced on businesses by the Councils, the reputational damage and backlash from such a scenario isn’t worth thinking about!
If Minehead is to do BID for another 5 years, it will only work if the true majority of real businesses vote it in, and the only way that can happen is a ballot without council voting influence.
Everyone has been told BID is meant to be for businesses, decided by the businesses, so let’s make sure this really happens by lobbying all Councillors to ensure their requisite Council abstains from voting!
P.S. Remember to lobby your Councillors for both MTC and County:
Minehead Town Council Councillor contact details here:
https://mineheadtowncouncil.co.uk/your.../your-councillors
Somerset Council (SCC & SWT) current Councillors for Minehead contact details here:
Councillor Andy Hadley (SCC & SWT)
https://democracy.somerset.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=156
https://democracy.somersetwestandtaunton.gov.uk/mgUserInf...
Councillor Mandy Chilcott (SCC)
https://democracy.somerset.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=129
Councillor Craig Palmer (SWT & MTC). Use MTC email.
Councillor Terry Venner (SWT & MTC). Use MTC email.
P.P.S. Also remember to lobby the BID Board of Directors to put in a formal request for the Councils to abstain. If they don’t do this small fair gesture, then you know they don’t care about a fair ballot or have the best interests of all businesses at heart.
