Better Bankside is a not for profit company, limited by guarantee, funded and led by you – our member businesses. Over 10% of our members are involved in our governance, through our theme groups and board of directors.
2019 ballot
On 29 November 2019 the businesses in the Bankside area voted overwhelmingly for another five year term, with 92% in favour and 55% turnout in terms of numbers, and 97% in favour and 69% turnout in terms of rateable value.
This increases the majority by numbers won in 2015 and is in fact the largest ever ballot majority achieved by Better Bankside.
The ballot extends the life of the Better Bankside Business Improvement District (BID) to 2025 and expands our area from 750 businesses to almost 1,000.
The result secures £11m investment over the next five years to deliver projects and services that improve the neighbourhood. The BID boundary was extended from April 2020, welcoming more businesses into the Better Bankside community.
We worked closely with local businesses and other stakeholders to co-create a 2020-2025 proposal for Bankside, ahead of the 2019 ballot.
Ballot results
| Total number of votes cast (excluding any ballot papers rejected) | 596 |
| (Turnout by numbers) | 55% |
| Aggregate rateable value of votes cast | £142,633,600 |
| (Turnout by rateable value) | 69% |
| Votes in favour | 550 |
| (Votes in favour as percentage of turnout) | 92% |
| Votes in favour by rateable value | £138,542,250 |
| (Votes in favour as percentage of turnout) | 97% |
Better Bankside runs a five year business plan. Through delegating budgets to theme groups, populated by representatives from businesses, we encourage enterprising action whilst ensuring transparency, accountability and participation.
Our services are additional to those delivered by the local authority and other providers.
From April 2020, we extended the BID boundary, welcoming more businesses into the Better Bankside community. The wider area includes
broader sectors of the community, including four schools.
We are committed to growing our neighbourhood to create a more diverse business network, a stronger unified voice and new opportunities for all.
Annual General Meetings (AGMs) provide a further opportunity for members to comment on our services and shape our programme going forward.
Further information about how Better Bankside is managed, funded and run is available in the BID arrangements, along with details of our revenue and planned expenditure.
Q. Am I a member? How much do I contribute?
Every five years, businesses have the opportunity to vote on whether they want Better Bankside to continue. This ensures our programme of projects and services remains relevant to the membership. After the 2019 successful ballot win, all businesses with a rateable value of £26,000 are members of Better Bankside and pay 1.16% of their rateable value.
Q. Does my business pay the Better Bankside BID levy?
A. If your business in located in our area and the rateable value of your property is over £26,000 then you automatically become a Better Bankside BID member and you will be liable to pay the levy.
Q. How much is the BID levy?
A. The amount you’ll pay is based on the rateable value of your property. The levy is 1.16% of a business’ rateable value for properties over the threshold of £26,000.
Q. Do charities receive a discount?
A. Yes, charities receive a discount of 80% on their BID levy and this is applied automatically
Q. How do I pay the BID levy?
A. Southwark Council collect the levy on our behalf. The payment details are on the back of the letters. If you have any questions or want to check payment details, you can contact them at Bids@southwark.gov.uk or 020 7525 3168.
Q. How do I get a copy of my BID levy invoice?
A. You can access your invoice by logging in or registering online at southwark.gov.uk/mysouthwark. Through this portal you can see your annual bill. If you are registering for the first time you’ll need your business name, first 7 digits of your account number and postcode of the property address.
Q. What do you use the BID levy for?
A. Better Bankside is a not-for-profit organisation. We use the levy income to invest in the area and fund our services over each five-year period. You can see more about what we do here and how you and your business can benefit from the work we do to support and promote Bankside.
Q. What if I’m struggling to pay my levy amount?
A. If you are struggling to pay the levy, we can offer payment terms to split your payments into monthly instalments between now and the end of the financial year. Contact Southwark Council to set this up at Bids@southwark.gov.uk or 020 7525 3168.
Better Bankside exists to make your business stronger. You can save money by using our free recycling service and discounts on other waste streams. You can also take advantage of our promotional support. Get in touch with us to find out more – info@betterbankside.co.uk.
Q. Is the levy included in my business rates or council tax bill?
A. The BID levy is a separate cost and is not included in business rates or council tax. The BID levy is used to provide extra services, on top of what the local council provides. The levy is used for services only in Bankside, so your business and the local neighbourhood directly benefit from the investment.
Q. Can I opt out of the BID?
A. No. The BID is legally binding on the non-domestic ratepayers in the Business Improvement District area. Every five years, businesses have the opportunity to vote on whether they want Better Bankside to continue. This ensures our programme of projects and services remains relevant to the membership. In November 2019 the businesses in Bankside voted overwhelmingly for another five year term, with 92% in favour.
Q. How much is collected in BID levies?
A. This will change every year as new developments are occupied, you can see the latest details of our revenue and planned expenditure. Please see our BID levy notice statement 2024-2025.
Q. Aren’t these services already provided by the council?
A. No. By law the services provided under the Business Improvement District must be additional services not already provided by us or enhancements to existing services.
Q. I don’t benefit from BID services why should I pay?
A. The BID levy is a charge payable by law and not a payment for services received. We use the BID levy to invest in the area, creating a stronger business community. There are lots of ways you can benefit from our services so please get in touch with our Membership Manager, Charlotte Stanley, cs@betterbankside.co.uk to find out more.
Q. The property is unoccupied do I still need to pay?
A. Yes, unless the property has been taken out of ratings by the Valuation Office Agency you will be liable for the BID levy.
Q. Can I pay by instalments?
A. Yes, the BID levy is split into two instalments over the year. The first instalment is due on the 1 April and the second instalment is due on 1 October. You can see the details of this on the BID levy invoices issued in March.
If you are struggling to make these payments we can offer payment terms to split your payments into monthly instalments between now and the end of the financial year. Contact Southwark Council to set this up at Bids@southwark.gov.uk or 020 7525 3168.
Q. What happens if I paid for the year then cease to be liable?
A. If your lease on a property in Bankside ends part way through the financial year then your levy bill will be pro-rated for the time you are liable for the levy. Contact Southwark Council at Bids@southwark.gov.uk or 020 7525 3168, to let them know you have ended your lease and they will issue an updated pro-rated invoice for the BID levy.
Q. How can I provide feedback to the BID?
A. We are always happy to hear from our members. Your feedback on how we are doing helps us to shape the future programme. Contact us to set up a meeting. Getting involved in our governance is a great way to play a role in co-creating our programme of projects and services. We also hold an Annual General Meeting to which all levy payers are invited to attend. A declaration of interest and loyalty is a standing agenda item at our board meetings and minutes are available on request.
For further information, contact Nicole Gordon, ng@betterbankside.co.uk
We have a number of downloadable documents available for our members:
- 2020-2025 Business Plan. We work closely with local businesses and stakeholders to create a programme that benefits the whole neighbourhood.
- 2024 annual billing leaflet. This details how funds have been spent in the previous year and forecast spending for the next financial year.
- Annual report and financial statements (31 March 2023). A copy of Better Bankside’s financial statements for the year ending 31 March 2023
- Procurement policy
If you require the minutes of any of our board meetings, please contact us via email at Nicole Gordon, ng@betterbankside.co.uk
