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Jul 2023
Businesses vote 'yes' to continue Harrogate BID
Local firms have voted overwhelmingly in favour of continuing to fund Harrogate Business Improvement District for another five years.
About 450 town centre businesses were asked to vote on whether to pay a levy of 1.5% on top of their rateable value to fund the BID for a second term.
The result, announced last night, revealed 76% voted 'yes'.
It means the organisation — one of more than 350 BIDs in the country set up to increase footfall by providing additional services to those run by councils — will continue until at least the next ballot in 2028.
Since it was founded in 2019, Harrogate BID has funded initiatives such as street cleaning, street art and entertainment and floral displays to make the town centre more welcoming.
Street ranger Chris Ashby is part of the BID team.
Its business plan for the new five-year term, which officially starts in January 2024, focuses on three objectives; pride in our town; a vibrant town and voice and vision.
Dan Siddle, the general manager of the Crown Hotel who chairs Harrogate BID, said:
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The now-defunct Harrogate Borough Council used its block vote to support the BID in the last ballot.
This time,, its successor North Yorkshire Council chose not to get involved so the vote was a purely business decision.
Harrogate BID manager Matthew Chapman said:
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