The story so far

The Greenbank, Furthergate, and Whitebirk Business Parks in Blackburn provide a good quality business environment from which to trade and operate. The development of the area to its current standard has been made possible through public and private investment. Since 2007 private sector investment has been made through a Business Improvement District. The BID was approved by companies through a ballot in 2007 and lasts until September 2012.

Since the introduction of the BID 5 years ago, reported crime in the area has reduced from 201 to 93 criminal acts per year.
 

BID Services

The aim of the BID is to improve the security and physical appearance of the area through the installation and monitoring of security cameras and the provision of business park wardens.

The initiative is one of the first of its kind in the UK creating a partnership between Lancashire Constabulary and local businesses. It utilises the latest technology providing the business parks with closed circuit television (CCTV) and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras. A network of 30 cameras have been installed and these are monitored ‘live’ in the CCTV Monitoring Station at Greenbank Police Station, providing an additional level of security for businesses with the objectives of reducing crime, fly-tipping, arson and anti-social behaviour. Since the cameras became operational Lancashire Constabulary statistics show a significant reduction in reported crime, with a reduction of over 50%.
    
 

The Business Park Wardens patrol the area undertaking environmental improvements including litter picking, fly tipping removal, graffiti removal and landscape maintenance. They work alongside the police and local authority reporting anti social behaviour and suspicious activity. Litter remains a problem for the area with 1218 sacks of litter removed during the last year. There has been an increase in fly tipping with 21 incidents recorded, however there has been a reduction in graffiti problems. The Wardens have also replaced damaged street signs and introducing barrier netting in certain areas to address litter problems.

 

Bid Cost to You - 2007-2012

Through an additional levy placed on the business rates

The charge to businesses will vary depending on their Rateable Value

The BID levy is paid in a single payment annual bill with annual amendments

The BID levy is structured through a banding system outlined in the draft bands below, based on the 2005 rating assessment as listed on the valuation office website (www.voa.gov.uk) as at April 1, 2007.

    
Band Rateable Value (£) £ per business No. Properties
Exempt
5,000-9,999
£0
350
A
10,000 - 17,499
£350
89
B
17,500 – 24,999
£450
45
C
25,000 - 49,999
£650
55
D
50,000 - 99,999
£850
36
E
100,000 - 199,999
£1,000
15
F
200,000 - 499,999
£1,500
4
G
Above 500,000
£2,000
2
Total eligible properties
246
 

Note: Figures show year 1 costs. Following years will be increased by a factor of 3% per annum.

  • The levy will be invoiced by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council annually as a single payment.
  • Individual hereditaments with a ratable value of below £9,999 will be exempted from the BID levy.
  • There will be no exemptions for void properties / empty properties / charities / hardship.
    Any new hereditaments added to the non domestic rating list during the initiative will be liable to pay the levy.
  • Any valuation adjustments, successful appeals, or new hereditaments will be adjusted annually on September 1.
  • A business that is in occupation of a hereditament on September 1, will be liable for the BID levy for that year.
  • Where a premises is vacant on the September 1, the liability to pay the annual BID levy will revert to the legal occupier (e.g. leasehold or freehold interest, etc)
 

 

Ballot Results - 2007

The result of the ballot was announced on 2 August 2007 by Electoral Reform Services Limited.

Barnaby Ho , Project Manager with Electoral Reform Services declared "that the proposal to establish a Business Improvement District in Blackburn Economic Development Zone is approved. A majority of the Business ratepayers in the proposed BID area who voted, voted in favour of the proposal, both by aggregate rateable value and numbers voting".

There were 3 ballot papers rejected for being either unsigned, unmarked or void for uncertainty.

The closing date for this ballot was extended due to Royal Mail industrial action.

    
 

 

Total number of votes cast in the ballot, excluding any given on ballot papers rejected
94
Aggregate rateable value of each hereditament in respect of which a person voted in the ballot
4,190,530
Total number of votes cast in favour of the proposed Business Improvement District for Blackburn EDZ
84

Aggregate rateable value of each hereditament in respect of which a person voting in the ballot has voted in favour of the proposed Business Improvement District for Blackburn EDZ

3,848,530