Yorkshire Coast BID notice of ballot

Local Government Act 2003
Business Improvement Districts (England) Regulations 2004

Notice of ballot

Proposed new term of the business improvement district for Yorkshire Coast

This is to give notice that a ballot is to be held on the proposal of the Yorkshire Coast BID for a new term of the Business Improvement District (BID) for Yorkshire Coast.

The ballot will be conducted entirely by post by the Independent Scrutineer, Civica Election Services of 33 Clarendon Road, London N8 0NW. Ballot papers will be sent to those eligible to vote on Friday 3 May 2024 for return to them by no later than 5pm on Tuesday 4 June 2024 (the “day of the ballot”).

Who can vote in the BID ballot?

The person eligible to vote in the BID ballot will be the non-domestic ratepayer listed on North Yorkshire Council’s database for each eligible hereditament (business premise) situated in the geographical area of the proposed BID as at the date of this Notice. Each person entitled to vote in this ballot shall have one vote in respect of each hereditament occupied or (if unoccupied) owned by them in the geographical area of the proposed BID.

Appointment of a Proxy

Persons eligible to vote in the BID ballot may appoint someone else to vote on their behalf (for example, if they are going to be away at the time of the ballot). Applications to appoint a proxy must be submitted to Civica Election Services at the above address no later than 5pm on Saturday 25 May 2024. An application for the appointment of a proxy must be made in writing and:

a) state the full name and address of the person whom the person entitled to vote (the applicant) wishes to appoint as a proxy;
b) state the address(es) of the applicant’s hereditament or hereditaments;
c) be signed by the applicant; and
d) contain a statement by the applicant that the proxy so named has been consulted and is capable and willing to be appointed

A proxy appointment may be cancelled by notifying Civica Election Services at the above address no later than 5pm on Thursday 30 May 2024.

Lost ballot papers

Ballot papers will be dispatched on Friday 3 May 2024. If you have not received your ballot paper in the week after this date, please apply for a replacement ballot paper.

Civica Election Services can provide a replacement request form to aid the process of requesting a replacement and providing all the necessary information. Please email bids@cesvotes.com to request one.

You may apply to Civica Election Services for a replacement paper by supplying one of the following:
a) an email sent from a business account including a company email signature; or
b) a letter in hard copy form along with the appropriate ‘evidence of identity’; or
c) a scan of both the letter and the ‘evidence of identity’ attached to an email

Any email requests should be sent to bids@cesvotes.com. Hard copy requests should be addressed to The Independent Scrutineer, Civica Election Services, The Election Centre, 33 Clarendon Road, London N8 0NW.

Hard copy requests must be signed by the Eligible Voter and evidence of the voter’s identity must be provided in the form of one of the following:
a) a signed letterhead for the appropriate company; or
b) a signed photocopy of the national non-domestic rating bill for the hereditament; or
c) a signed photocopy of an item of personal ID such as a passport or driving licence

Please do not send original copies of ID or bills.

Civica Election Services will issue any replacements that match the requirements detailed above, from the replacement deadline on Wednesday 29 May 2024.

Spoilt ballot papers

If you inadvertently spoil your ballot paper in such a manner that it cannot be conveniently used as a ballot paper, please return it to Civica Election Services (address above). On receipt of the spoilt ballot paper, Civica Election Services will issue a replacement. No replacements can be issued if the spoilt ballot paper is received by Civica Election Services later than three working days before the day of the ballot.

Count of ballot papers

Ballot papers will be counted on Wednesday 5 June 2024, and the result of the ballot will be announced shortly after.

For a BID ballot to be successful there must be a majority of those voting in favour of the proposal, and those voting in favour must represent a majority of the aggregate rateable value of the hereditaments voting.

Rejected ballot papers

If a ballot paper is duplicated and two are returned bearing the same number or barcode both will be void and not counted. Any ballot papers that are returned unsigned, unmarked or that are void for uncertainty will also be void and not counted.

Declaring the result

The ballot result will declare:
a) the total number of valid votes cast;
b) the total aggregate rateable value of valid votes cast;
c) the total number of valid votes cast in favour of the BID;
d) the total aggregate rateable value of valid votes in favour of the BID; and
e) if applicable, the total number of ballot papers rejected

For the BID ballot to be successful there must be:

1. a majority in favour of the BID in the number of those voting; and
2. a majority in favour of the BID in the proportion of rateable value of those voting

If you require further information on the BID, please contact Kerry Carruthers on 01723 643006 or email k.carruthers@yorkshirecoastbid.com. 
Alternatively, information on the BID is available from the Yorkshire Coast Bid website. 

Published by the Ballot Holder, County Hall, Racecourse Lane, Northallerton, DL7 8AD
23 April 2024