Penrith Business Improvement District (BID)

Penrith BID history

Formal announcement of the proposal to establish a BID for Penrith took place on 3 December 2012. It came into effect on 1 April 2013. The total number of votes cast was 170, representing a rateable value of £5,068,400. The votes in favour were 138, representing £4,392,900.

A ballot for a second term took place on 30 November 2018. The total number of votes cast, excluding rejected ballot papers, was 183, representing a rateable value of £5,661,400. The votes in favour were 135, representing a rateable value of £3,740,200. This met both of the threshold tests to renew the BID for a second term. 

Penrith BID ballot for a third term

A ballot was held on 30 November 2022 on the proposal for a third term for the Penrith BID, this was a proposal for a five-year term from 2023 to 2028. For a third term of the BID to be approved, two threshold tests must have been met in the ballot:

  1. More than 50% of votes cast (turnout) must be in favour of the BID; and
  2. The positive vote must represent more than 50% of the Rateable Value (RV) of the votes cast.

The total number of votes cast, excluding rejected ballot papers, was 115, representing a rateable value of £2,642,650. The votes in favour were 89, representing a rateable value of £1,084,850. 

A majority of the business ratepayers in the proposed BID area who voted, voted in favour of the proposal, but not by aggregate rateable value. As both of the threshold tests were not met, the proposal for a third term of Penrith BID has not been approved.

Another ballot for a third term took place on 28 June 2023. The total number of votes cast, excluding rejected ballot papers, was 159, representing a rateable value of £5,337,200. The votes in favour were 128, representing a rateable value of £3,797,050. A majority of the Business ratepayers in the proposed BID area who voted, voted in favour of the proposal, both by aggregate rateable value and numbers voting. This met both of the threshold tests to renew the BID for a third term. 

Support for the Penrith BID

In 2012, we backed the Penrith BID proposal and voted yes in respect of each of the properties we pay rates for within the BID area. We supported the yes campaign to help convince local businesses of the merits of the proposal.

At a full Council meeting on 9 November 2017, Members decided to vote yes to the BID renewal in respect of each of the properties we pay rates for within the BID area. 

At the Cabinet meeting on 18 October 2022, Members decided to vote yes to the BID renewal in respect of each of the properties we pay rates for in the BID area.

At the cabinet meeting on 6 June 2023, Members decided to vote yes to the BID renewal in respect of each of the properties we pay rates for in the BID area.

For more information about Penrith BID

Visit the Penrith BID website.

Penrith BID payment

Make a Penrith BID payment online.

Last updated: Tuesday, 4 July, 2023.