THE BRADFORD city centre Business Improvement District could be up and running before Christmas if voting goes in its favour over the next fortnight.

BID development board chairman Ian Ward says the group of business leaders behind the scheme want to be able to “hit the ground running” after the busy Christmas period.

“The result of the ballot will be declared on October 12 and if we get a Yes vote we will start right away on the process of establishing the BID as a legal entity, a company limited by guarantee,” said Mr Ward.

“It will take about a month to establish the operating board, appoint a BID manager and set up an office but once we know city centre businesses are in favour we’ll be getting stuck into that straight away.

“Obviously, the Christmas period will be a difficult time to get things going – and there are lots of exciting things happening in the city already over the festive season – but we want to be able to hit the ground running in the new year.”

Voting is already well underway in the ballot of 630 city centre businesses and organisations which make up the BID area but Mr Ward urged voters not to be complacent about returning their ballot papers.

“Of course, we would like the vote to go in favour of setting up the BID because we’ve spent almost two years working on the project,” he said. “A phenomenal amount of effort has gone in and we’ve been working really hard to get across the benefits the BID could bring to the city centre and all those who live, work and trade here.

“We know a lot of people have said they intend to vote Yes but they need to make sure they get their ballot papers back as quickly as possible and not leave it to chance. If their votes aren’t in by 5pm on October 11, when the ballot closes, they won’t count.

“We really don’t want all that effort by a group of people who are totally committed to improving the fortunes of Bradford city centre to be wasted.”

If the BID goes ahead, it expects to collect about £2.5 million over five years through a levy on businesses with a rateable value of more than £12,000. A small business valued at £15,000 would pay just £3.61 a week and a business with an RV of £65,000 would pay £15.63 weekly.

“Businesses need to remember that this is a business-led initiative and the projects we aim to tackle are drawn directly from those that they have identified for action,” said Mr Ward. “The control of all the levy income will be in the hands of business and it is business, through the operating board, that will decide how the money will be spent in delivering the four pillars of the business plan – Safe, Clean, Alive and Promoted.

“The BID’s job is not to replace Council services but to provide additional services and projects that are completely over and above anything the Council does.

“In fact, part of our role will be to hold the Council and others to account for the services they provide on behalf of businesses and we will work with them to make sure they are doing their best for the future prosperity and prospects of city centred-based companies and other organisations.

“But none of that can happen without a Yes vote. So I would urge everyone who is entitled to a vote to use it, to vote Yes and to vote now!”