Mansfield Business Improvement District goes ahead after government overrules protesters

The government has rejected a challenge by disgruntled businesses in Mansfield who claimed that the voting process to approve the introduction of a Business Improvement District (BID) in the town was flawed.

The outcome of the vote amongst affected business was disputed by a group of firms calling themselves the Mansfield Independent Business Alliance, which claimed that the businesses entitled to vote were not representative of those likely to be affected by the scheme.

However, the Department for Communities and Local Government disagreed, ruing that there was 'no material irregularity' in the process and that the scheme was free to proceed.

The Mansfield Independent Business Alliance said that it would not seek to take the matter to court.

The postal ballot closed in March, with the votes being counted by Electoral Reform Services. For the BID proposal to be successful, more than 50% of those taking part in the ballot had to vote in favour, and the total rateable value of those voting "yes" had to be greater than those voting against it. 55.42% by number voted in favour of setting up the BID, while 65.49% by aggregate of Rateable Value were in favour. The turnout was 44%.

The BID company will be financed by a levy on the business rates of nearly 550 firms, and will raise an estimated £1.75m to be spent on environmental improvements and amenities over the next five years.

These include providing town centre rangers, improving marketing and promotion and increasing security and cleansing.

Mansfield District Council will collect the levy on behalf of the BID company, whose management board comprises representatives from different commercial sectors

Mansfield’s elected mayor Tony Egginton, said: “We are delighted that the issue has been resolved and we can now move forward with the BID for the benefit of the town centre economy and visitors to the town.”

The council pointed out that security improvements in other BID areas had led to reductions in companies’ insurance premiums.