ENNISKILLEN businesses have four months to decide how they will vote in a ballot asking if they want to pay a Business Improvement District (BID) levy that will fund improvements to their trading environment.

The Enniskillen BID levy would be 1.5 per cent of a businesses rateable value and would be paid in addition to business rates over an initial five year period.

The ballot will take place between March 17 and April 29, 2016. A successful vote is one that has a majority in two categories: votes cast and the rateable value of votes cast. Each business will be allowed one vote for each property occupied by them in the geographical area of the BID. If the outcome is a yes vote, all businesses within the BID area will be required by law to pay the levy, even if they vote no.

In April 2014, Enniskillen was chosen by the Department for Social Development (DSD) as one of seven BID pilot districts in Northern Ireland following a successful presentation by Enniskillen Business Partnership members Joe Kelly (of Belle Isle Cookery School) and Terry McCartney (of Belmore Court Motel).

Enniskillen Business Partnership then asked Fermanagh and Omagh District Council (FODC) to come on board to support them in bringing the Enniskillen BID forward to a ballot.

A task team has been established, Chaired by Anna Devlin of Cavanagh Kelly Accountants. The current membership consists of Pat Blake, Nicky Cassidy, Tanya Cathcart, Tom Harpur, Jim Masterson, Terry McCartney, Anne Mooney, Jonathan Poots and Jonathan Styles. The task team is in the process of asking local businesses what improvements they want to see in the town. To date, the following issues have arisen: marketing, CCTV, Christmas lights and having a collective voice when lobbying on behalf of the Enniskillen business community.

For the last few years, there have been last minute calls for traders to pay up for CCTV contributions, with some traders arguing that they cannot afford the cameras in addition to their rates, rent, rubbish collection and Christmas lights. It is understood that businesses hope a co-ordinated approach will finally deal with the problem.

A summary business plan will be launched on Saturday, December 5 and a consultation period will run until the end of January. The finalised business plan will be launched at the end of February and the ballot will open on March 17. The ballot result will be announced on April 29.

The Enniskillen BID boundary will not be finalised until the business plan is completed.

It has not yet been decided who would collect the business levy but other BID areas across the UK have asked their council to issue the levy bill and then employ third party organisation to handle collection of the levy.

For the last few months, FODC Economic Development Officer Noelle McAloon has been on the ground, surveying local businesses about the BID project. She has received positive and negative feedback. “There are people saying: 'This is another bill'.

"We fully appreciate that this is another ask for money, but, do you have marketing? do you pay into CCTV? do you pay for Christmas lights? This would be a one off payment that would invest in all of that,” she states. Ms. McAloon adds: “This is an investment. Businesses can potentially come together to pay for insurance, trade waste or confidential shredding too.”

If businesses vote yes, the Council would step back and an Enniskillen BID not-for-profit company would be created, with public meetings and minutes available online.

She continues: “What we are saying is: 'Let's give this a go'. We don't mind if people have a negative attitude or are reticent about this; come and talk to us because we don't want people to ignore it or not find out about it.

“The summary business plan (to be launched here on December 5) will set out a clear budget for proposed actions and services within Enniskillen BID."

A survey of 122 Enniskillen businesses, covering the retail sector and independent traders across all industries, has shown the following conclusions: 75 per cent support “a strong coalition to represent and collectively champion the needs of Enniskillen businesses”; 78 per cent believe that collective marketing and promotion of Enniskillen is very important (but 40 per cent believe this is currently poor); respondents feel that marketing, business support and environment are the most important; and all respondents felt that street cleanliness, the removal of litter and prevention of anti-social behaviour were very important.

Mrs. McAloon concludes: “The strength of the BID is that it is up to the businesses to agree what will be done.”

Background

Originating in Toronto in the 1970s, BIDs entail local businesses paying a levy towards improvements or initiatives to enhance their trading environment.

The Assembly passed the Business Improvement Districts Act on March 21, 2013.

In the last six months, businesses in Ballymena, Belfast and Newry have voted yes to becoming a BID.

Ballymena plans to raise over £1.5 million to spend in the town which is set to be hit by the loss of hundreds of jobs at the Gallaher and Michelin factories. It recently spent £5,000 on the Ballymena Bear Christmas advert, a four-minute story of a little bear looking for its owner (popping his head around the town's various shops and eateries), which has been viewed 15,000 times in 49 different countries.

An Enniskillen businessman previously told The Impartial Reporter that he would like the BID to fund a marketing programme, signage, a town manager and events such as retail week, organising packages with hotels and a ‘meet you down the town’ festival.