BASINGSTOKE and Deane Borough Council look set to vote in favour of a plan to set up a private sector-led group to help promote the town after the decision-making Cabinet voted to back the scheme at a meeting last night.

As previously reported by The Gazette, Basingstoke Town Centre Forum, in partnership with local businesses and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, has been working on a proposal to form a Business Improvement District (BID).

The BID – named Basingstoke Together – would allow businesses and employers to work together to improve the town’s economy and entice more customers to come to the area.

Through the payment of a small levy, additional activities could be funded to finance public and business events, environmental improvements, bulk buying between businesses to save money or to have a more expansive Christmas lights display.

The BID would also enable businesses to buy in extra services above and beyond what they already receive from the borough council through the payment of standard business rates.

A ballot will take place in October and November which will see businesses in the BID zone vote in favour or against the proposals and the result is expected to be announced in mid-November.

Successful BIDs have already been set up in Camberley, Newbury, Reading and Winchester.

And the scheme now looks set to get the backing of the borough council after Cabinet members approved the offer of accommodation in Market Chambers at the Top of The Town rent free for five years if businesses vote in favour of the BID, agreed to principle negotiations for the new BID to run the market and town centre events programme for the first two years if it is approved and agreed to authorise chief executive Melbourne Barrett to vote yes in the ballot on behalf of the local authority.

The leader of the borough’s Liberal Democrat group, Councillor Gavin James, raised concerns about the BID and said the borough council should be seen to be impartial.

He added: “I have some reservations which I mentioned before about the area scope. It does drag in a lot of businesses around the periphery rather than concentrating on the core.”

Eastrop councillor Stuart Parker added: “I would like to say that I am not completely convinced that the larger businesses are on board for this.”

But council leader, Cllr Clive Sanders, defended the scheme, telling the meeting: “I think there is a very good track record of BIDs in other areas and towns locally and up and down the country often being successful in promoting a more vibrant, normally retail communities, and have been very successful in doing so.”