Rye Town Hall was packed on Monday 26 January as councillors enthusiastically supported plans for a Business Improvement District (BID) in Rye.
Voting for the Rye BID continues until 12 February. Around 290 of the town’s shops, pubs, restaurants and businesses are being balloted on the controversial new levy which could raise over £90,000 for town centre upgrades and tourist promotion each year.
The council decided to use its two votes, based on its two rateable addresses – the town hall and The Strand public conveniences, to support the proposals.
Ahead of the councillors’ discussion members of the public spoke. Matt Breckon, managing director of Rye Kino and chair of the Rye Bid Task Group, said, “This is a significant opportunity to invest in Rye in the face of local government reorganisation. Rye is in danger of losing its voice.”
“Sadly misinformation continues to be spread about the plan,” he said. “Most business are quietly supportive.” He explained how the team behind the proposals was made up of large and small businesses across the town centre.
The Rye BID has caused considerable controversy with some firms fearing what they see as another tax they will be forced to pay, however very few representatives of the businesses thought to be opposed to the plans took the opportunity to speak at the town hall meeting.
Concerns were raised about how the vote could favour Rye’s big businesses. “Is it democratic? There’s a big mismatch between numbers of people and rateable value,” said Dr Andrew Bamji.
For the BID to be approved the ballot has to be won by both a majority of yes votes and a majority of the businesses rateable values, the meeting heard. “That’s the check and balance in the voting to give small and large businesses parity,” explained Sarah Broadbent from the Rye BID Task Group.
Questions were also asked about the work the Rye BID would do. “Who will do it and will it put out to tender?” asked Jenny Granger, referring to the plans for tourist marketing and campaigns. A formal procurement process was confirmed, with multiple quotes.
Following the public discussion, councillors debated the proposals with several noting how the money raised by Rye BID would stay in Rye.
“We have huge change coming,” said Councillor Fiddimore, referring to the local government reorganisation that could see Rye Town Council take on more responsibility. “If things come back to Rye, we will be expected to pay for it which means for me BID is a winner. But what happens if people don’t pay?”
“It’s the same as when people don’t pay their business rate,” explained Sue McGeown, From Mosaic Partnership – advisors to Rye BID. “Collection will be the responsibility of Rother District Council.”
“The opportunities outweigh the issues,” said Councillor Creaser. “If we don’t have Rye BID the Rye precept will need to be raised,” she said referring to the Rye part of the council tax. “I understand how small businesses feel, but we should go for it.”
“I was against it,” said Councillor Rivett. “But I’ve been swayed by the arguments in favour. Rye money raised in Rye stays in Rye.”
With two councillors recusing themselves from the discussion, the decision to use Rye Town Council’s two votes in favour of the Rye BID was passed by eleven votes to one, with two abstentions.
The postal ballot is being organised by Civica who provide election services for Rother District Council. The Rye BID will be discussed by the Council’s Cabinet on Monday 2 February.
Image Credits: Natasha Robinson .
Just like any election people are not forced to vote, with many businesses who do not want to proceed with Bid in Rye, and if it is passed by those in favour,how can other businesses be made to pay for this service that they do not wish to be part of, That is not democracy, but dictatorship
I think John, you are confusing democracy and dictatorship. A public discussion and a vote is decidedly democratic, as are our regular elections and was the 2016 referendum. Not everyone in any election will be pleased with all outcomes but that is democracy. A dictatorship in a fascist system of government tells us what we should want and what we should need without electoral input. Yet in both systems of government taxes need to be paid to support vital services. The process set up to discuss and vote on the Rye BID has been an exemplar of democratic processes, in my opinion.
No John, it’s how democracy works. If a majority of the people vote for a party, everyone — including those who didn’t vote for them and those who didn’t vote at all — has to pay the taxes they decide to raise, whether or not they use the services the taxes pay for. Same goes for schemes like the BID, only the members of the BID will have input on how the money raised is used, and the voting structure is carefully designed to ensure no particular interest group can seize control. At the meeting we learned that out of the 350 BIDs already set up in this country, nine out of ten are renewed, meaning that they work well for the majority of businesses concerned. We also learned that only 61 out of nearly 300 businesses affected by the BID signed the petition against the BID, which means that well over 200 businesses are in favor — why should the opinion of only 20 percent of the businesses dictate the outcome?
I’m of the view that if you don’t use your vote whether for this or other elections, you forfeit the right to comment. Just because a vote doesn’t go your way doesn’t mean you have a free pass to not comply with the majority decision, or at least if you do you should be prepared for the consequences. Actually this is exactly what democracy is.
The town council meeting was a great opportunity to hear all sides and was conducted in a very civil and orderly way, it was a shame however that those who have been apparently so vociferously opposed did not take the opportunity to engage in open discussion. There was a real sense of opportunity and positivity about the BID and I look forward to seems the result of the vote.
We run 3 small businesses in Eastbourne and pay a bid levy on all three. The Bid has transformed the town and so the small amount of money we pay into the pot is well worth it when added to everyone else’s money.
They represent us when there are any problems with Highways, planning or business rates and have driven up footfall and visitors with events and marketing. They also maintain planters in the summer, festoon lighting all year round and lovely Christmas lights.
Rather than pontificate on what is , or is not democracy. Why not take a look at the House of Commons Library briefing on BID. It’s less than 20 pages of reading and explains or leads to explanations on the subject. Also it’s written for MPs so it has to be simple and straightforward.
https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN04591/SN04591.pdf
I noted that two councillors recused. This was unnecessary. A councillor need only recuse if they have a direct and personal interest. An example would be if they ran a building company and the council were considering tenders of which that councillor’s company had submitted. Rye Town Council has a long tradition of business people serving as councillors and this to be welcomed as they bring commercial experience to decision making. .
So, contrary to some numbers quoted, I have seen that over 80 businesses in Rye do not want this to go ahead. It’s also become apparent that the large businesses in the town are in favour and many small are anti.
As a business owner, I’ve seen two 4 colour documents printed and distributed which have highlighted areas where the money raised if it goes ahead would be spent.
Sadly, a number of them do not meet the requirements mentioned, (which I am happy to discuss away from these pages.)
One of the additional ironies of how BID helps the town is who paid for the plethora of coloured quality documents distributed? and if Rye is so important to them why weren’t Adam’s or Artwrite asked to print them?
By far the biggest issue though, is that with business rates going through the roof, where on earth is the democracy that you will
get taken to court if you don’t pay and agree with it, and the fact that RDC get numerous votes when people like me who actually own a business in Rye get just one vote!
We sponsor a lot in Rye, and I know for a fact that if we are FORCED to pay into something that’s dictated by the few to the many then it will create a very divisive situation.
Forget building another local website, increasing footfall? (it’s the most it’s been and parking is a nightmare !) Toilets owned by Network Rail and Seagull Bins.
Scallop Week is a resounding success without external input, and so was Pirate Day last summer, and done organically, not forced, which will get our support this year
Nobody wants to be bullied, and in the current climate of huge business rate increases, and in our case another rise in tax and duty if this goes through I’ll be exceedingly disappointed.
There has been very little transparency throughout about who gets the money, and no engagement with many of us smaller businesses.
If you don’t own a business, you’re not forced into paying for something you don’t want! I do own a business, I care about Rye BUT please do not put me into a corner with many other small businesses to be dictated to by the few
I find it interesting to read the comments of the smaller business in the town, not everyone can get away from their shop,too fight what they think is an injustice to them.As for RTC getting two votes, surely they are just custodians of the property under their control, unlike the real small shop owners that own their business,and cannot afford more outgoings in the present climate
There has been nothing democratic about the process from inception, largely unavailable to most, to the vote itself.
There has been an extraordinary lack of genuine face-to-face openess, transparency and indeed care in the use of public money which has resulted in unnecessary division and upset amongst business owners in our wonderful, vibrant and successful town.
It seems wholly unjust that a publicly funded “Yes Campaign” takes precedent over the concerns and worries of a sizable cohort of identifiable “unfunded” small business owners who seem to have been cast as awkward, challenging or somehow “anti-Rye” for having taken exception to a new tax that they don’t want and indeed have yet to fully understand or see any benefit. It saddens me beyond belief.
Of course, it stands to reason that when you have the capacity to attend meetings and have the time avaialble to make your arguments coherently and to “bend the right ears.” It is much easier to make a positive case for your position. This is the ultimate failure of the BID process.
Responding to some of the points raised on behalf of the BID Task Group:
1. As made clear in our statement to Rye Town Council – there were only 61 verified signatures on the petition presented to the Rye BID Task Group out of a total of nearly 300 businesses in the BID area. On that basis the Task Group concluded that proceeding to ballot is the best way for a democratic decision to be made by the town’s businesses as we recognise that many are quietly supportive of the idea.
2. The Mosaic Partnership are the advisors to Rye BID and were appointed after a procurement process. They have been contracted to deliver all aspects of the BID process, including the setting up of the Rye BID website, email and all printed materials and postage. This was the most cost-effective use of the public funds ring fenced for the BID project. All project spend is overseen by Rother District Council on behalf of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Of course, should the BID be voted in, then the focus will be for money raised in Rye to be invested back into Rye.
The consultation process has gone above and beyond that required by the BID legislation and has been documented in detail. Rother District Council as the statutory authority, under The BID Regulations of 2024, approved the BID Proposal before it went to ballot. As part of that approval process they had to be satisfied with the level of consultation which they were.
3. The Final Business plan takes into account the feedback from the first consultation document. Changes were made to accommodate the views received by businesses who engaged with the Task Group. Events and festivals do not feature in the final plan. The plan has a much greater emphasis on public realm and procurement savings for businesses. These changes were made in direct response to views expressed by businesses in town.
You have raised the effect of the 2026 revaluation and the additional pressure businesses will face. In fact, in the Rye BID area, over 70% of businesses pay no business rates at all because they fall below the £12,000 exemption level and this number is similar for the 2026 revaluation.
4. The misinformation in town that continues to circulate about the vote is unhelpful. Every business hereditament in town that is eligible to vote within the BID area has ONE vote. This is regardless of size of business. RDC have votes because they too pay business rates on their own property – namely the car parks and some of the public conveniences. It is the same set of regulations for all regarding payment.
5. The consultation process has been lengthy and detailed with many opportunities for all businesses to engage with the process. Choosing not to engage is not the same thing as not being given the opportunity to engage.
6. If the BID is voted in, the Rye BID Company will be formed. It will be a company limited by guarantee (not for profit), a board of unpaid directors will oversee the BID company. They will be made up of representative businesses within the BID area covering geography, size and sector – as is already reflected in the Task Group. The levy will be collected by RDC on behalf of the Rye BID company and passed directly to it. Full governance, accounting and reporting will be in place for the company and its procurement processes. There is nothing lacking in transparency about this.
7. The BID is our town’s chance of resilience, and moreover for businesses in our area to gain a seat at the table where currently they are denied. It is not a stealth tax. It is quite the opposite. It’s an investment with a defined set of performance indicators to demonstrate return on investment for those businesses who will be paying into the pot. We have been fortunate enough to have had the BID process paid for by Levelling Up funding. We will unlikely have that chance again – this is an opportunity not a threat.
As a small business owner who pays business rates on three small premises and lives in Rye, I think the BID is a wonderful idea.
It is clear that there are plenty of improvements that could be made to the BID area which are unlikely to ever be implemented by either the Town Council or RDC, especially given how little money councils have these days. Having a BID to tackle projects like these is a great idea, particularly as it will be overseen and managed by local people.
I note that one of the detractors notes that “parking is a nightmare!” Surely the BID’s proposal to “trial measures to improve more efficient car-park usage during peak visitor times” should be welcomed, as should “pedestrian-friendly measures” and “encouraging off-peak activity.” It’s hard to see how these could do anything other than benefit Rye.
Yes, business rates are going up and times are tight, but I think a levy of £100 seems like a good investment.