A scheme which would mean traders pay an extra levy on their business rates to make streets more attractive is a step closer to becoming a reality.

Brighton and Hove City Council's policy and resources Committee voted in favour of turning parts of the city centre into a business improvement district (BID).

Businesses included in the BID would pay a small supplementary amount on their rates - around one per cent - which would be used for improvements of their choice.

This would likely to be things like Christmas lights, graffiti removal, better lighting and hanging baskets but the tax could also pay for street carnivals or exhibitions.

The scheme will only go ahead if traders vote yes in a referendum next year.

If more than 50 per cent of voters want the BID - and they represent more than half of the area's total rateable value - the scheme will be implemented.

This puts a strong onus on business to get to grips with BIDs and vote for or against.

The council and Brighton and Hove Business Forum will let business owners know what a BID would mean and how it would work.

City centre manager Soozie Campbell said: "The 'yes' from the council is fantastic news.

"But we want to make it very clear this is all about what traders want. They will be the driving force behind this.

"If they don't want it, it won't happen. And if they do vote yes, it will be they who decide what the extra money is spent on."

Deputy leader of the council Sue John said: "This is something a lot of traders in The Lanes and North Laine have been asking us about.

"It would give businesses a lot of flexibility about what improvements to the street they would like to see."

Stuart Wilkie, chairman of The Lanes Business Network, was undecided but he said it was wise for traders to be open minded.

"If you do take the view: 'We already pay for it so why should we pay more?' you could be discounting what could be of real benefit to business in Brighton.

"Likewise we have to be very careful about how and where the money is spent, who is making these decisions and issues surrounding the BID boundary."

Eddie Start, owner of Open Spaces in Trafalgar Street and a member of the North Laine Traders' Association, said: "I like the idea in principle and think it would be good for businesses if we could get some decent Christmas lights.

"But it would be interesting to know if bigger businesses, who pay more through the levy, would hold more sway when it comes to decisions about what the money is spent on.

"The cost of running a business in Brighton and Hove is very expensive and I expect some will say the council should be paying for it, but we can't expect them to underwrite everything.

At the same time, there needs to be some realism about the scheme. If people suddenly expect North Laine will be lit up like Regent's Street in London, they might be disappointed."

Tuesday, November 15, 2005