Renewal Ballot and Our Plans 2023-2028

Local businesses in the Whitehall BID have voted overwhelmingly in favour of renewing the Whitehall  Business Improvement District (BID) for a second consecutive term.

Of those businesses that voted, 81% voted ‘yes’ at the ballot (93% by rateable value), setting a strong mandate for the BID to continue to deliver its ambitious strategic and operational improvements of the area.

Read our full announcement here.

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Vision, Commitments and Core Themes

1

Create a more environmentally sustainable business district and tackle climate change in line with the City of Westminster’s ambition for a net zero borough by 2040.

2

Drive the continued post-pandemic recovery by supporting the return of office occupiers to the workplace, reviving international tourism, addressing recruitment challenges in the hospitality sector and helping the local economy adapt to new consumer profiles/behaviour.

3

Maintain our role as an important bridge between the private and public sector, enabling partnerships that drive positive change not only in the BID area but the wider community too.

4

Use the collective strength of ‘London HQ’ – a collaboration with neighbouring south Westminster BIDs – to lobby for continued local and central government investment in the Whitehall BID area, keeping London at the forefront of our economy.

Core Themes and Deliverables

Cleaning and Greening

Cleaning and Greening

Community Safety and Business Resilience

Community Safety and Business Resilience

Environmental, Social and Governance

Environmental, Social and Governance

Destination Destination

Destination

Placemaking

Placemaking

The Ballot Process

Ballot Process step 1

Businesses in the Whitehall BID area will now be asked to vote on whether they endorse this proposal with a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ during a formal ballot.

Ballot Process step 2

Westminster City Council is responsible for managing the process and their ballot partner Civica sends out a ballot paper to each eligible business on 2nd February. Voting papers must be returned by 5pm on Thursday 2nd March 2023.

Ballot Process step 3

For any BID to proceed, two independent outcomes must be satisfied:

1

Those voting in favour must exceed those voting against in terms of number of votes cast (essentially 51% of votes are ‘yes’).

2

The total rateable value of those properties/hereditaments voting in favour must exceed the total rateable value of those voting against i.e. the aggregate rateable value of ‘yes’ votes must also be 51% or above.

Remember that voting YES will deliver the services in this plan to your business and the area; a ‘no’ vote would
see all of the current provision come to an end.

The result will be announced on Friday 3rd March 2023, and a successful ballot will mean the BID’s next term beginning on 1st April 2023. All eligible businesses will then become liable for the BID levy.