A MASSIVE vote of confidence in Hexham businesses has come from Northumberland County Council.

For the council has flung its weight behind the new £1.2m Business Improvement District (BID) campaign in the town.

And by voting ‘yes’ to the BID project, the council will be putting its money where its mouth is, for it will be chipping in around £55,000 via the annual BID levy on the 21 eligible council properties in Hexham.

It will be one of the largest single contributions to the collective funding initiative that the BID will create.

The council will be one of around 600 Hexham businesses to go to the ballot box in January to decide whether to create the Hexham BID – the first scheme of its kind in Northumberland.

A ‘yes’ vote would usher in a new phase of additional growth and development in the town.

The £1.2m ring-fenced funding will provide resources for the next five years to deliver a wide range of improvements in the town.

The funding will be raised through an annual levy charged on eligible businesses in Hexham. The levy for around 75 per cent of companies will equate to £200 per year, or just £3.85 per week.

The council has made this decision well in advance of the ballot following a review of the BID business plan which is now available online and will be sent to every eligible business in advance of the vote.

The money raised by the BID will be used exclusively in Hexham through a new, local, business-led, not-for-profit organisation.

It will fund a wide range of major projects and services focused on what companies say is important to them, and will ultimately benefit the whole town for businesses, residents and visitors alike.

The BID will fund and support a host of new projects adding value to existing services, including those of the council.

This includes new investment in town signage, addressing access issues to industrial estates, new events and marketing campaigns, investment in services to improve the quality and cleanliness of key locations, a dedicated town centre manager to pull together investment and support and new town ambassadors to improve the offer to visitors.

Over the last year, the council has got behind the group of volunteers who are organising the BID and who have held regular open sessions to engage as many local companies in the development of the proposals as possible.

The steering group includes a wide range of businesses, Hexham Business Forum, Hexham Town Council and Hexham Community Partnership.

The council will run the postal ballot for the BID and, subject to a ‘yes’ vote, operate the levy collection services.

Cabinet member for economic growth at the county council Coun. Allan Hepple said: “It was an easy choice for the council to make in supporting this because our focus is on creating local jobs and growth in every part of the county.

“I hope businesses will take time to review the proposals, attend one of the remaining events or drop-in sessions, or simply get in touch. That way businesses can see for themselves what the direct practical benefits are in the proposals and then vote ‘yes’ in January to support new and additional growth in Hexham.”

Chairman of Hexham Business Improvement District Malcolm Eglin said: “It’s fantastic news to receive the backing of the council at this key moment in the development of the BID.

“This signals a significant commitment to Hexham’s future prosperity on the council’s part. A lot of business people have given their time and energy to get us to this point and all that remains is to encourage the business community to vote ‘yes’ in January 2016.

“There are lots of ways to enquire and ask questions about the BID and all the contact details and information about events are on our website.”

To find out more visit www.reviveandthrive.co.uk/hexham-bid