BUSINESS property owners in Selkirk will decide in a ballot on November 30 if they are prepared to pay an annual levy – on top of their non-domestic rates – to fund a range of town centre improvements.

A majority vote in favour would see the Royal and Ancient Burgh will become the first town in the Borders to be designated a Business Improvement District (BID).

This is an investment model, led by the private sector and promoted by the Scottish Government, aimed at improving the local business environment.

Under the scheme, spearheaded by Selkirk Chamber of Trade, an annual charge – ranging from £195 to £1,105, depending on rateable values – will be levied on the owners of the 86 eligible town centre properties.
Premises with a rateable value of less than £2,000 will be excluded from the levy.

Scottish Borders Council will impose an annual fee of £2,500 for collecting the cash, leaving the local BID steering group with an estimated annual net income of £18,690 from the levy to spend on a range of projects over a five-year period.

In addition, the group anticipates that if businesses vote for the BID model, it will be able to increase annual income by £5,000 from other external funding sources.

The Selkirk BID wish list includes the development of a town brand, website and social media presence; new promotional literature for visitors; a range of street entertainment and events; new visitor signage and signposting to business development opportunities.

A part-time manager will be recruited to develop and deliver these projects.

The ballot date and the levy collection arrangements were agreed at last week’s meeting of SBC’s executive committee which heard there were indications the Selkirk business community would support BID implementation.

“Most recent consultation and discussions indicate that 41 per cent of those eligible to vote are supportive of the BID and the themes identified in the business plan, while 49 per cent are potentially in favour but require more information,” reported SBC’s chief economic development officer Bryan McGrath. “Only four eligible persons have said they are not supportive.”

Two owners who will vote “yes” in the ballot are the council, which owns three properties in the town, including the High Street municipal buildings, and Live Borders which runs the Victoria Hall, the public library and Halliwell’s Museum.

Councillors heard that for the ballot to be valid at least 25 per cent of those entitled to vote (21) must do so and that this must represent 25 per cent (£174,025) of the total rateable values of the properties.

In the event of a “yes” vote, an ad hoc Selkirk BIDS company will be established with responsibility for the financial management of the project.

Supporters of the Selkirk initiative will be hoping for a better outcome than that experienced in Peebles in 2011 when 69 of the 106 businesses in the town voted to reject a similar BID scheme.