The latest plans for a Business Improvement District (BID) in Rye are being delivered to firms in the town centre this week. The proposals are also being discussed by Rother District Council on Monday October 6.
Consultation on the controversial scheme has been extended with no firm decision taken on whether it will proceed. If it does go ahead, there will be a ballot of affected businesses to make the final verdict in January.
Under the plans, firms in Rye would each pay towards a fund that would contribute to town centre improvements, for example better signage, marketing or Christmas lights. The levy would be imposed on all qualifying town centre firms for five years and could raise over £100,000 annually.
Sarah Broadbent from the Rye BID Task Group says the latest consultation document began to be to delivered on Thursday October 2. "The draft BID plan is now being circulated to eligible businesses within the proposed BID area for a further round of consultation. A decision on whether to proceed to ballot will not be made until the end of this round."
At the same time, the proposals are on the agenda for Rother District Council's cabinet meeting on Monday October 6. Councillors are expected to approve a draft plan to ballot local businesses no later than February next year.
The report for the cabinet meeting includes details on how any money raised will be spent, with £15,000 allotted to improving signs, toilets and bins each year.
£60,000 would also be set aside annually to pay for an AI tourist information service, Christmas lights, events, promoting the Strand, social media and marketing. Full details of the spending plans are already published on the Rye BID website.
Sarah Broadbent says the council discussion is separate from the consultation process. "The Task Group needs to ensure it is following regulatory procedure. RDC approval is not an indication that the Rye BID is going to ballot, simply that due process is being followed and permissions sought in advance of the point of perhaps needing them. This is necessary so as not to conflict with the timings of the mayoral election next spring."
