Business Improvement District Funds
Case reference FOI2018/00710
Published 25 October 2018
Request
I would like to request details of any funds used by the authority in relation to the establishment of a business improvement district regardless, of the outcome of this spend. I am interested in monies spent hiring consultants to write a business plan and carry out a ballot as well as funds spent on any feasibility studies which may have not, or not yet, resulted in a business improvement district being established. In the event of funds having been spent I would also like to know the name of the area in question, X Town Centre or Y Industrial Estate for example. In the event of a business improvement district being established the only information I require is the name of the organisation.
Response
In 2011 Guildford Borough Council paid the following amounts in pursuit of establishing the viability of a Business Improvement District (Elevate Guildford Ltd T/A Experience Guildford, a town centre retail and F&B Business Improvement District):
BID Consultancy (Mosaic Partnership) £70,000
Room Hire for BID consultant £ 156
Web Domain registration £ 83
Advertisement for BID Consultant £ 1,710
Total £71,949
Guildford Borough Council also advanced a short term loan of £150,000 to the newly created BID, repaid from levy receipts.
Documents
This is Guildford Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
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