About the BID
BID stands for Business Improvement District (BID). It does not replace the statutory activities or services carried out by the council, police or other public agencies. It is an arrangement under which local businesses improve their own trading environment and agree via a BID operating company how the levy should be spent on a range of projects to boost the town centre, trading environment and increase footfall.
The Weymouth BID is operated by We Are Weymouth Limited, a wholly independent, non-profit distributing company limited by guarantee. It has a board of up to 16 directors from local businesses.
The current Weymouth BID term operates for five years. It started on 1 September 2018 and will end on 31 August 2023.
A ballot was carried out in June 2018 and all businesses in the BID area were given the opportunity to vote for or against the BID levy. The result of the ballot was a 'yes' vote, therefore all businesses liable for the levy are required to pay. View the ballot results.
Find out more on the Weymouth BID website.
Paying your bill
BID legislation requires local authorities to be the billing body. We pay all money collected directly to the BID operating company (Weymouth BID Limited).
The bill is due in one annual instalment in September and payment should be made to Dorset Council (not the BID direct) using one of our payment methods.
The Weymouth BID business plan makes no allowance to accept payments by instalments.
How your bill is calculated
Your annual BID bill will show the rate at which your BID levy is calculated.
The BID levy is set at a rate of 1.5% of your rateable value for a business with rateable value of £6000 or more. If you own 2 or more properties in the BID area, you will receive 2 separate BID bills.
The levy is based on the rateable value of the property at 1 September each year. The levy will change if the rateable value of the property also changes.
Problems paying your bill
BID statutory instruments state that levy invoices must be issued by the council on the anniversary of the levy.
If you experience difficulty in paying the BID levy, you should contact Weymouth BID.
Refusing to pay
It is hoped that all businesses will see the benefits of contributing to the BID. In the event of non-payment, on behalf of the BID operating company (We Are Weymouth Limited), the council will recover any sums due in line with normal recovery processes. This may mean that defaulters receive a reminder, final notice and may face ultimately court proceedings. However, the council will liaise with the Weymouth BID to discuss such cases and the Weymouth BID will encourage payment for the benefit of all.
Moving and empty properties
Empty properties, those undergoing refurbishment or being demolished will be liable for the BID levy via the property owner/registered business ratepayer with no void period.
If you vacate your property after 1 September then as stated in the Weymouth BID business plan you will be required to pay the BID levy in full for the year.
Reductions on rateable value
Reductions on rateable value will be taken into full consideration when calculating the levy for current and future years. However, reductions or increases in rateable value will only apply from 1 September following the amendment.
Business properties included in the BID levy
The BID area is defined in the BID business plan.
All liable businesses in the BID area will receive a BID bill, apart from a small number of exempt properties (including non-retail charities) which will not pay a levy.
Business rates
Business Rates and the BID levy are completely separate.
Business rates are a statutory local tax levied to provide generic services by the local authority.
The BID levy will pay for specific services and functions which may be on top of services that local councils provide. These additional services are decided by the Weymouth BID Board in consultation with all businesses in the BID footprint area (see below) to increase footfall and consumer spend within the BID area.
Contact Weymouth BID
The Weymouth BID Manager, and members of the board, will be happy to discuss the aims of the BID and to hear any questions or concerns you may have. Please contact the Weymouth BID Office.