Shopkeepers have started a campaign against the renewal of Gloucester BID saying it is a “stealth tax” with no value.

George and Elizabeth Placidly-Cox have called for business owners to vote no to extending the scheme to 2027.

But bosses at Gloucester BID, which stands for Business Improvement District, said they have improved the city and have urged members to back them for another five years.

The independent body was set up in July 2017 and has spent £2.3 million establishing the patrolling City Protection Officers (£627,000) paying for more than 500 summer planters and hanging baskets (£220,000) and helping fund events (£536,000 )including Tall Ships and Gloucester Goes Retro aimed at increasing footfall in the city centre.

The money was raised through an annual levy paid by 543 business premises owners within an area which encompasses the Docks, Quays, the Cathedral and train station.

BID is governed by a 10-strong board of levy-paying volunteers and run by a team of three employees.

Kieron Bates from The Fountain Inn is chairman and said: “The BID has done phenomenal things for the city. 

“We are immensely proud of all we have achieved in our first term and have laid out a clear plan to build on that, taking Gloucester forward, for our second term.”

Mr and Mrs Placidly-Cox who own 14 Gifts in Westgate Street disagree and have been lobbying neighbouring businesses to vote no in the ballot which closes on June 30.

George said of their campaign: “We don’t believe the BID in Gloucester offers value for money. It's a stealth tax and for what we pay in business rates we should be getting all of this anyway. Police should be patrolling the street and the council should be cleaning them.

“We believe in democracy and we want people to know they can vote no to this. One person we spoke to didn’t even know they had been paying for it.”

They also think it is unfair that not all businesses within the BID boundary have to pay the levy, which is based on the rateable value of premises.

The couple have been paying couple £336 per year, based on their previous premises inside Eastgate Shopping Centre. If the renewal goes through the levy for their Westgate premises will be £808 a year.

They have questioned how the money collected is spent and said there is a lack of transparency, particularly around board meetings, decision making and the accounts and expenditure.

They are also angry that of the 543 levy-paying properties within the BID area, Gloucester City Council owns 55, meaning it holds around 10 per cent of voting power.

Mr Placidly-Cox said: “They get a vote even if the property is empty and one of the properties is the Hare Lane carpark. It seems ridiculous that a carpark gets a vote.”

Business owner Keith Graham said he left Gloucester largely due to anger over how the BID was run and relocated his businesses to Cheltenham.

He and his wife ran the Groom Room,  Morgan DeVere and Bridal Sales in Northgate Street but left in 2020.

Mr Graham commended the No campaign and called Gloucester BID a “total disaster”.

He said: “My big concern is lack of transparency. The money they take is unaccounted for in the public domain because they won’t show a report detailing their expenditure. I asked to see their accounts numerous times but they never appeared.

“I don’t understand having a privately limited company running this as they can do whatever they want.”

The British BIDs Health Check report on Gloucester BID carried out in April and May 2021 concluded it was “sound and competent.” It looked at management and operations; financial matters; performance management and communications and reporting.

Emily Gibbon, BID manager, said minutes of all board meetings had been kept since it started and were available to view on formal request. She said anyone can request to attend meetings as an observer and paying members can request to be on the board and will be voted in or out by current members.

She said members are given regular updates  of BID’s work alongside monthly networking sessions being held and the team and board will answer any issues that businesses have.

Details of BID’s income and expenditure for 2021/22 were sent out in September with levy bills and can also be seen here.

Mrs Gibbon said despite the cost of living crisis, the levy would decrease from 1.6 per cent of rateable value to 1.5 per cent which showed its “total commitment to providing value for money and the best possible return on investment for businesses.”

She added: “Gloucester BID is incredibly proud of what it has achieved during

its first term, much of which has been set against unprecedented challenges for traders thanks to lockdowns, restrictions and ensuing economic uncertainty.

“We are champions for Gloucester and, through schemes like the Gloucester Gift Card, introduced to dozens of local businesses through the BID, city shops, bars, cafes and more have been supported back to normality.”

A survey of  levy payers in January asked what they thought the BID had done well and what they would like to see delivered in a second term. A follow up proposal was sent out and an open week held for members to respond and meet the BID team. 

Based on feedback the plan for the next five years includes continuing to fund the City Protection Officers, funding a team of Night Safe Officers, supporting the Street Medics and developing Gloucester’s Purple Flag Status- awarded to places which have vibrant, night-time economies. BID also wants to re-introduce an accreditation scheme that would encourage responsible management and operation of licensed premises and social responsibility.

Peter White, co-vice chair of Gloucester BID, said: “I’m very pleased with all we’ve achieved in Gloucester through a very difficult period, and we are now looking to steer Gloucester BID through the ballot campaign to achieve a Yes vote for a second term. We look forward to being part of key investments and exciting plans for the city.”

For the BID to be approved, more than 50 per cent of votes must be in favour and they must represent more than 50 power cent of the total rateable value.

Gloucester City Council confirmed it had 55 votes, including Hare Lane Carpark and that it would be voting in favour of renewing the BID.

A spokesman said: “At its meeting on May 4 the council’s cabinet endorsed Gloucester BID’s proposal to extend the BID for a further five years and so the council will be voting in the ballot in favour of a second term.

“It is the council’s view that Gloucester BID has delivered many benefits for its member businesses since its establishment in 2017 and it has produced a good forward plan for its continuation.”

If renewed, all businesses with a rateable value of £10,000 or more within the boundary will have to pay the annual levy, regardless of how they voted.

Voters have until 5pm on Thursday, June 30 to return their ballot paper. 

The results of the ballot will be announced on Friday, July 1.

Gloucester BID board members are:

Kieron Bates, manager of The Fountain Inn (chair).

Chris Nyland, Nettl of Gloucester (co-vice-chair).

Peter White, Kings Walk manager (co-vice-chair).

Owen Acland, manager of Gloucester Quays.

Richard Ashton-Phillips, manager and owner of Soundhouse.

Nick Brookes, owner of Advantage Buying Ltd.

Robert Buckley, director of Sure Sales & Lettings Gloucester.

Matthew Cass, Cass - Stephens Insurance.

Marie Kimber - manager at Primark Gloucester.

Toby Woolridge - Peppers Coffee Shop and landlord.