The BID
The BID is an arrangement under which local business plans how to improve their own trading environment.
- Businesses identify projects or services that will add value and agree on the level of funds which you will pay to make it happen.
- The funds generated are ring fenced and used to deliver a range of structured and themed activities voted on by the businesses in the BID.
- The BID and the projects it will fund do not and cannot replace those statutory services provided by public agencies such as the Local Authority, which are funded indirectly by your business rates. Instead the BID will provide new funding for projects and services, over and above those statutory obligations.
The Opportunity
This is your chance to help deliver over £4 million of additional investment in the city centre over the next 5 years and see a great return on this investment. It is a unique opportunity for Aberdeen City Centre to achieve its full potential and for businesses to take ownership and to collectively enhance business competitiveness.
The Funding
- The Aberdeen BID would be funded by a 1% levy based on the rateable value of the businesses in the BID area, eligible to vote.
- Businesses with a rateable value less than £27,500, plus religious and charitable organisations will be exempt.
- Mall tenants will be offered a 25% discount on their levy payment; in return the landlords will be particpating in projects, and offering finacial assistance, where appropriate.
- For many of the levy payers, the cost of the proposals will be less than £1 per day.
The Ballot
- The responsible person in your company, will receive a ballot paper in summer 2011.
- If the ballot is successful, with a majority of those voting being in favour by both number and rateable value, the levy will be mandatory on all businesses in the BID area with a rateable value above £27,500.
- The BID will then commence in summer 2011 for 5 years through until summer 2016.
Under BID legislation, all qualifying businesses have an opportunity to vote on whether they want a BID in Aberdeen to go ahead. In 2011, the person eligible to vote on behalf of your organisation will receive a ballot paper and proposal - The secret ballot is planned to commence during summer 2011 and all votes must be received within one month by the City Council Elections Unit, the organisation who will independently conduct the ballot. Each property within the BID boundary, with a rateable value of £27,500 and over, will be eligible to vote. This means that some organisations occupying more than one heritable property will have more than one vote.
Complaint Procedure
06/09/2011
Over the duration of the Aberdeen BID it is anticipated that complaints may be made by members of the public and levy payers. The following complaints procedure will ensure that all complaints are dealt with professionally and in a standardised manner and should be adhered to by all members of staff and executive.
Complaints may come in four formats: Face to Face, Telephone, Electronically (email, facebook, twitter etc) and Written.
Face to Face & Telephone
Professional and open conversation must be maintained with complainant, who will be advised that the agreed procedure for handling any type of complaint is that it is received in writing in either of the following formats (Letter or email) and must be addressed to the Aberdeen BID Chief Executive at the head office address. (387 Union Street, Aberdeen AB11 6BX)
If dealing with a face to face complaint, where practical a business card or printed note of email and head office address should be offered.
A note of the complainant's name and contact details should be made and maintained and nature of complaint recorded and only acted upon if followed up in writing. However if a number of complaints around the same issue are recorded, investigation will be carried out at the discretion of the Chief Executive.
Electronic and written complaints
1. All complaints should be recorded, dated and any documentation securely stored.
2. Complainant contacted, advised on receipt of complaint, given the name of the person investigating and advised that a response should be given in a period of up to 14 days.
Further details required to make full investigation into the nature of complaint are sought from complainant.
3. Appointed officer researches complaint and prepares appropriate written response.
4. Director overviews complaint and response and authorises completion or requirement for further research
5. Any complaint that is likely to take an extended period to address should be given to a senior officer and complainant receive written communication clarifying the research process and estimated response timescale.
6. An appropriate written response should be sent to complainant within the agreed timeframe, highlighting that if satisfaction is not obtained then complainant has the right to ask another officer to investigate complaint.
7. If complainant fails to accept response after stage 6 their final recourse will be through the Aberdeen BID Chairperson.
8. The Board will be regularly updated on both dealt with and live complaints.
In all cases it is imperative that all complaints are handled sensitively and given the
gravitas expected. No opinion should be given prior to full investigation of the issues, with all attempts made to maintain the confidentiality of complainant and avoidance of negative publicity of any kind.
Heather Farquhar
BID Coordinator
Tel: 01224 523361
heather.farquhar@aberdeenbid.org
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