Darlington

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Darlington Business Improvement District (BID)

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On 2nd April 2012 a YES vote to make Darlington Town Centre a Business Improvement District (BID) was declared. The independent ballot, conducted by ERS, was the outcome of almost a year of work undertaken by Darlington Town Centre stakeholders to bring the proposal to fruition when Town Centre businesses confirmed their support through a YES vote.

In the coming months Distinct Darlington will set up the BID company, which will formally come into existence around Summer 2012, when it will begin to deliver the projects and objectives from its Business Plan.

This mini site aims to provide you with information about the ‘Distinct Darlington BID’, and how it has been achieved. The Distinct Darlington BID Business Plan and Covering Letter set out how the BID will be managed and delivered, whilst the Business Plan Summary Sheet gives a very brief overview of the proposal.

A BID is an arrangement that has been very successfully used in other UK towns and cities, whereby businesses and stakeholders work together to achieve improvements to their trading environment.

The first stage of the process was a Town Centre Improvement Survey which gave the BID Team an idea of the issues that are important to Darlington Town Centre businesses. The BID map shows which businesses fall within the Darlington Town Centre BID Area.

The Darlington BID Fact Sheet answers most frequently asked questions about what a BID is and how it can improve Darlington Town Centre, with further information in the August 2011 & Novemeber 2011 newsletters, but if you require further information please contact the BID Team.

The BID process was steered by the BID Task Group, individuals who are all genuinely passionate about the future of Darlington Town Centre. The group, made up of key individuals from the BID area, represents all sectors within the Town Centre and was responsible for steering the activities of the BID project from inception through to the voting stage. The group will become the Interim BID Board and is chaired by Terri-Anne Rigg, Store Manager for Marks & Spencer Darlington and works closely with our appointed consultant, Mo Aswat from The Mosaic Partnership.

Business Plan and Ballot
All eligible businesses in Darlington Town Centre received their BID Business Plan which fully explained the proposal, and their ballot paper during March 2012 and had until 5pm on 30th March 2012 to cast their vote. The outcome of the ballot was declared at 3pm on 2nd April 2012.

Please bookmark us to check back and keep up to date with the distinct darlington BID.

“ This is a strong vote of confidence from the businesses who trade here and who clearly see the potential for a more successful and profitable future going forward under a Business Improvement District. ”

Terri-Anne Rigg, M&S/Chair Distinct Darlington BID Task Group

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