On Friday 26th March 2021 the results of the renewal ballot for the Oxted Business Improvement District (BID), Love Oxted, were published.
Love Oxted has been voted in for a second five-year programme of activity following a successful renewal ballot. The BID will play a pivotal role in the economic recovery following COVID and in supporting businesses in Oxted to adapt to the challenges over the next five years.
With the majority of businesses voting in favour of the BID this has secured an investment of £560,000 in Oxted over the next five years delivering projects in five key areas:
- Sustainability
- Digital Transformation
- Marketing & Events
- An Attractive Town
- Business Support.
Businesses voting included its national chains, independent shops, professional services, cafes, bars, restaurants, hairdressers and beauty salons. For any BID ballot to be successful, there needs to be a majority of businesses in favour, both in terms of number of votes cast and by rateable value. The percentage of YES votes by number was 63% in favour by number and 67% by rateable value .
Tracey Shrimpton, Love Oxted BID Manager says, “We have an amazing mix of businesses in Oxted and, while the last year has been incredibly difficult, it has shown how much people want to support local businesses in Oxted and see them thrive. The BID exists to support and represent all our businesses and, as we emerge from the pandemic, we are really excited about working together as a business community to face the challenges ahead and benefit from future opportunities as well as ensuring that funding is allocated to improve Oxted in the interests of businesses in the town.”
The Oxted Business Improvement District, Love Oxted, was formed in 2015. Love Oxted is a not-for-profit company funded entirely by businesses in the town with 56% businesses contributing less than £1 a day. The ballot process was undertaken by independent adjudicator Civica Election Services and follows months of consultation to understand local business needs to develop the business plan for the next five years.
Read the formal notification here.
Read the business plan here.
