Scarborough Borough Councillors say The Yorkshire Coast BID "Should be Brought to a Speedy Closure"

Scarborough Borough Councillors have voted to work with the Yorkshire Coast BID Company to bring about its speedy closure.

That was one of the aims of a motion passed by Scarborough Borough Council yesterday.

Councillor John Nock tabled the amended motion at a special council meeting yesterday afternoon.

A report to the councils audit committee last week said that the BID company lacked transparency and had failed to engage adequately with the businesses in the area.

Yesterday's motion is not binding on the BID company but councillors say it sends a clear message of intent.

Councillor Bill Chatt tabled the initial motion

Councillor Michelle Donohue-Moncrieff says the BID hasn't achieved support from local businesses because the ballot that created the BID was flawed.

Councillor Heather Philips says many levy payers and councillors never wanted the bid in the first place and the no confidence motion provides a way forwards.

The full motion passed by councillors yesterday reads:

“This council recognises the extraordinary, unforeseeable and unpredicted hardships to businesses throughout the pandemic and these early days of its aftermath, And in consideration of the many unprecedented challenges facing BID Levy-payers now additionally burdened by repayments under the Coronavirus Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS), has charged the Audit Committee to examine and debate the workings of the ballot in 2019, noting that it has subsequently examined the past and present performance of the Yorkshire Coast BID, its future operation and advised the Council of its voting options. Council notes the findings of the report of the DBID Working Group set up for this purpose.

This Council resolves to

• 1. Work with the BID Company to bring about its speedy closure:
• 2. Pass a vote of no confidence in the Yorkshire Coast BID governance arrangements and representation of local businesses on the board
• 3. Accept in full the findings and recommendations of the Audit Committee on 21 July 2022; and
• 4. Endorse the advice given to Audit Committee that the provisions found in regulation 18 of the BID have not been satisfied in order to terminate the BID arrangements; and
• 5. Note that there are on-going court proceedings in respect of non levy papers in which the Council is acting in its capacity as billing authority; and
• 6. Welcome the on going work of Places and Futures Overview and Scrutiny Committee in respect of scrutiny of Yorkshire Coast BID.”

In a written statement issued after yesterday's council meeting, Clive Rowe-Evans, Chair of the Yorkshire Coast Business Improvement District said:

“The motion passed by Scarborough Borough Council on the vote of no confidence has been largely strong-armed by a select number of businesses in the area. We’ve been saddened to witness some of the behaviour which a number of our staff and directors have also been subject to.

“Some of the figures quoted and the evidence presented in the lead up to the decision has not been accurate and reflective of the work that has been delivered by the Yorkshire Coast BID over the last 3 years.

“In the last three years, we’ve invested £489,000 back into Scarborough, Whitby, Filey and surrounding villages on a number of different initiatives, all to promote, protect and support local businesses. We support grassroots projects like Scarborough Stories which has sought to empower individuals to grow and share their work and passion for the town. Projects such as this give a voice to the next generation of entrepreneurs and creatives.

“As a region, we all want to strive towards the same common goal – to support the success of the Yorkshire coast and better it for future generations – and this is something we should be delivering together, as a united community.

“We’re incredibly proud of our involvement in such a wide range of different projects which showcase and highlight the cultural offering available across the different coastal towns and will continue our work supporting all those levy payers who have backed the BID until at least July 2024. This will not distract us from promoting and protecting Scarborough, Whitby, Filey and all the villages in-between as part of our wonderful coastal area.”

• RELATED STORIES : Call for the Yorkshire Coast BID Company to Hold an AGM Open to All Levy Payers
• RELATED STORIES : Report Says Scarborough Borough Council Should Not Have Taken Part in BID Ballot