BID

This is an initiative by the Windermere and Bowness Chamber of Trade, and is being led by the Chambers BID Steering Group whose names can be found on the "home page" of this website.

This project is being supported by numerous public bodies, local organisations and businesses (see below). A BID means that, for a small investment, businesses help decide on spending priorities within the LA23 business community and ensure that an independent BID board spends the money on the business community's preferred projects.

On the 9^th June 2011, the Windermere and Bowness Chamber of Trade BID Steering Group secured funding from "Cumbria Fells & Dales RDPE Local Action Group" for the ballot to ascertain whether the business community wants to become a Business Improvement District.

The Steering Group have received the official "Offer Letter" from Cumbria Fells & Dales RDPE Local Action Group and have had a meeting with them to finalise minor details.

The Secretary and the Chair of the BID Steering Group have undertaken training on the legal requirements of the project. This training was given by Cumbria Fells & Dales RDPE Local Action Group. The letter of confirmation from Cumbria Fells & Dales RDPE Local Action Group can be found by clicking here!

Members of the Steering Group attended a meeting of the Windermere Town Council on June 27th to give a presentation on the BID initiative. This was well received and a letter of support from the Council has been sent to the Steering Group.

The Steering Group are currently in negotiations with South Lakeland District Council regarding the holding of the ballot. It is envisaged that the ballot papers with be sent to all none-domestic rate payers with a rateable value of £3,000 and over during November 2011. If the vote is "Yes" then the 1% levy would be collected in the 2012/13 rate bill.

The table below gives an indication as to the additional cost the levy would impose on the businesses.

Rateable Value	Additional per Year	Or Per Month	Or per Week
£3,000	£30.00	£2.50	0.58
£6,000	£60.00	£5.00	£1.15
£12,000	£120.00	£10.00	£2.31
£24,000	£240.00	£20.00	£4.62

For more information on the Windermere & Bowness BID and how it might effect your business, please contact one of the following members of the Steering Group:

Name	Title	Email
Simon Everett	Chair	simon@wbcoft.org.uk
Paul Frain	Vice Chair	paul@wbcoft.org.uk
Adrian Faulkner	Secretary/Treasurer	adrian@wbcoft.org.uk
Bill Johnson	Communications Officer	bill@wbcoft.org.uk

Secretary: Telephone - 015394 48527.

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Ballot Result - 1 February 2012

Notice of Ballot - 15 December 2011

Ballot Timetable

Day	Action	Date
56	ERS to receive Mailing List, Wording for all documents	Tuesday 6 December 2011
42	Statutory (Latest ) Date: Notification of Ballot	Tuesday 20 December 2011
28	Statutory (Latest ) Date: Despatch of Ballot Papers	Tuesday 3 January 2012
10	Latest Date to Appoint Proxy	Saturday 21 January 2012
5	Latest Date to Cancel Proxy	Thursday 26 January 2012
4	Issue of Replacements	Wednesday 25 January 2012
0	Close of Ballot	Tuesday 31 January 2012
-1	Issue Result by 5pm	Wednesday 1 February 2012

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Below are frequently asked questions and their answers regarding a Business Improvement District. Please click on the wording to see the question that you require an answer for and then on the question itself for the answer. If the question is not there, please email the Secretary who will endeavour to answer the question with 24 hours and also post both in this section.