Business bosses encouraged to join board which plans to improve Spalding town centre

Business bosses can have their say on how £1 million of funds could shape a town centre.

Firms narrowly voted in favour of creating a Spalding Business Improvement District (BID) in July, which will raise cash by each company paying a compulsory monthly levy.

Now bosses are being called on to join a to-be-formed board to oversee the project.

“The majority of businesses in the area voted in favour of establishing the Business Improvement District and now we need you to help ensure we deliver the business plan to improve your town centre for you and your customers,” a letter delivered to all town centre shops and offices stated.

It listed ways companies can get involved, including: becoming a board director ( a commitment of one hour per week), joining a working group to contribute to proposed events, projects and activities or joining as a member to ensure voting rights, including electing directors.

“The Spalding BID is an arrangement whereby businesses have come together and decided which improvements they feel can be made in a town centre, how they will implement these improvements and what they are prepared to pay (BID levy),” the letter added.

In total, 58 of the 115 votes cast in the BID ballot this summer were in favour, with one paper rejected - a victory by one vote.

To be created, the idea needed the backing of half of the voters by numbers and by rateable value.

While the number of votes was a 50.4% positive, the margin on rateable value was 64.1% — with £1,078,300 of the £1,681,250 total worth of business voters backing the plan.

Ten years ago traders voted no by a majority of 80%.

The levy will raise £170,000 a year while encouraging potential investment of £1 million over five years for a number of projects such as combating anti-social behaviour, events and improvements.