A meeting was held at The Revelstoke Hotel in Bridlington last night ( Friday 8th November) to discuss and challenge plans by Yorkshire Coast BID to impose a compulsory levy on businesses along the North and East Yorkshire coast.
Over 40 people attended who represented local businesses, plus town and county councillors from the area.
The main speakers were Cllr Tim Norman, Graham Collinson from Scarborough, Cllr Hero Sumner from Whiby.
The meeting was also attended by ERYC Councillors; Andy Walker, Liam Dealtry and Mike Heslop Mullins who are also Bridlington Town Councillors.
Graham opened proceedings with his appraisal of where the BID Company has
come from and a summary of the recent Consultation of businesses which the
Yorkshire Coast Levy Payers Association has recently completed.
He stated that: ‘The main points from the Consultation, which was responded to by 40% more businesses than actually voted in the November 20 18 Ballot, was that the vast majority (over 80%) wanted the BID company to be wound up. Additionally of those that responded, an overwhelming majority were not consulted prior to the ballot and similarly a majority did not receive a Ballot Paper in order to be able
to vote in the official Ballot.’
He added: ‘In respect of the future, following the full council motion by Scarborough Borough Council last Monday, SBC are to enter into an investigation into the process behind the Ballot, especially given the figures from the recent
consultation. The Yorkshire Coast BID company are to be urged to take part
in an independent investigation … although to date they have been unwilling
to enter into any discussions regarding such a review.’
Attendees heard that in addition, there is to be a motion to be taken to full council at East Riding of Yorkshire Council in Beverley on 20th November. This motion is to discuss the recent and Consultation process and the results of the
consultation. It will aim to ensure that ERYC, who alongside Scarborough
Borough Council are legally bound to collect the Levy for the Yorkshire
Coast Bid. The other points raised were that both SBC and ERYC in November 2018 cast their votes in favour of the creation of the BID.
Cllr Norman added: “The future plans of action are for the Yorkshire Coast Levy
Payers Association to continue to grow in strength and numbers and to continue to work with SBC and ERYC on the independent investigation with the
hopes of a re-ballot of all businesses on a fair proposition.”
He added: “In the meantime the next steps from an East Yorkshire perspective is the motion to a full council meeting on 20th November from 2.pm in Beverley and it would be great if some business owners from East Yorkshire could show their support on that day.”
Pictures by Trevor Hedges