Westmorland and Furness Council’s Cabinet has agreed to give its support to extending the Ulverston Business Improvement District (BID) for another five years.
This means the council will use its vote to support the extension in the upcoming ballot on 17 July.
Westmorland & Furness Council Leader and Portfolio Holder for Strategic Partnerships and Economy, Cllr Jonathan Brook, said: “Ulverston BID is driven by an innovative, resourceful and committed group of people from businesses in the town. They have achieved much in the past 10 years and have an ambitious plan to further influence the development, growth and vitality of this thriving town.
"As a council, we are committed to encouraging sustainable and inclusive economic growth and BIDs such as Ulverston play an important role in stimulating their local economies.
“That’s why I’m delighted that the Westmorland and Furness Council Cabinet was able to offer its unanimous support for a third term for Ulverston BID.”
The council also manages the ballot process in accordance with the BID Regulations. For a BID to be established, a ballot has to be taken and all eligible business ratepayers within the defined area are entitled to vote.
Ballot papers are being sent to eligible businesses this week, with the ballot closing on 17 July.
If the upcoming vote is successful, the BID will be extended for the period of 2025-2030 and will be funded by a BID Levy that is charged in addition to standard business rates.
A BID is a defined area, whose businesses pay an additional levy on top of the business rates to fund projects within the BID area. A board made up from local businesses runs Ulverston BID, working together with businesses across the BID area to improve trading conditions in the town. The BID also works closely with Westmorland and Furness Council, Ulverston Town Council and other partners.
The Ulverston Business Improvement District was originally established in Ulverston in 2015 and ran for five years until 2020. The renewal ballot took place in 2020 confirming a second term of five years running from 3 September 2020 to 2 September 2025.
The BID Business Plan 2025-2030 sets out the BID’s plan of improvement to focus on the below areas:
- To improve, market and promote Ulverston as a place where people want to live, work and visit because the town is Attractive
- To make it easier and more affordable to use and access information on shops, services and entertainment in Ulverston (Accessible)
- To revitalise the town by supporting and expanding the program of markets, festivals, events, arts and cultural activities bringing the town Alive
- To build, through the BID, an effective partnership between the town’s businesses, organisations and local authorities for the benefit of Ulverston as a place to live, work and visit (we do this Altogether).
Cllr Helen Irving, the council's representative on Ulverston BID, said: "I would like to say how important the hard work that has been done by the team over the last five years has made a difference to the town and going forward that will continue. The future business plan will retain the four main principles that have successfully operated over the last five years and hopefully continue for the next five years and support the highlighted projects and the public realm by working alongside other bodies."
Cllr Helen Chaffey, Cabinet Member for Community Services, seconded the motion to approve the council's vote in favour, and said: "I thank the BID team for the extraordinary work they have done over the past five years in making a tangible difference to the town for residents, businesses and visitors alike – differences we can see with our own eyes and experience the benefits of such as the town centre planter seating, the improvements to the shop fronts and the signs and trails which help everyone navigate the delights of the town.
"It is extraordinary because this is also entirely voluntary. All the work the BID put in is an unpaid labour of love and I am delighted to support this and look forward very much to working with the Ulverston BID, Ulverston Town Council, ward members and all the community organisations involved in making this a place where everyone can happily live, work and visit. "
Click here for the Ulverston BID Notice of Ballot.
Click here to find out more about Ulverston BID and its 2025-30 business plan.