Last call for Lincolnshire Coastal (BID) vote

Nine hundred and 75 businesses from Donna Nook in the north to Friskney in the south have until Wednesday, August 31, to say whether they are prepared to continue paying a levy towards the cost of “co-ordinated destination marketing and events” to promote the coast.

The first five-year term has been undeniably controversial – with only recently 169 businesses so opposed to the DBID they were prepared to face Boston Magistrates Court for non-payment of the levy.

At the beginning of the third year there was also the ‘amicable’ resignation of the DBID’s first manager, Lisa Collins, and marketing assistant Harriet Lawson and a completely new team was brought in – only to face some of the most challenging years for businesses due to the pandemic.

However, in spite of the changes and challenges, some business owners, including ones who have paid the levy, remain firmly against the DBID because they say they pay enough to ELDC in rates and rents and shouldn’t have to pay twice for services that used to be delivered by the authority.

To convince them otherwise, Visit Lincolnshire Destination (BID) produced a glossy Business Plan for the next term, stressing there would be no marketing for the coast at the scale the DBID offered without them.

The Business Plan for 2022-27 states if the Lincolnshire Coastal BID is voted back in, it will invest a further £3million in the coast.

This includes Destination Marketing and Promotion, Events, Business Support and Access Schemes.

In the first term, £2.5 million was invested in these areas. Pre-covid, the Visitor Economy spend on the coast grew by 10%, or £20 million more than the average for the rest of Lincolnshire – 40 times the return on the annual levy.

However, the businesses who are against the BID are equally passionate change needs to happen.

Local businessman and former Skegness Mayor and district councillor Brian O’Connor, who owns the boating lake and a number of other businesses in the town, has paid the levy but says he will be voting ‘no’.

Mr O’Connor harks back to the days when ELDC used to promote the coast and says he feels Skegness, in particular, is getting a raw deal.

He still holds a copy of the ELDC Tourism and Amenities Committee coastal income and expenditure estimates for 1997/98 from when he was a councillor.

The accounts show a total income from all services of £4, 746,860 with a net expenditure on amenity services £3,571,740

This includes estimates of £498,500 on publicity, £296,840 on Tourist Information Centres, £946, 650 on parks and gardens, £166,160 on illuminations, and £276,340 on foreshore maintenance.

"In those days ELDC was made accountable for what was happening on the foreshore if there were problems,” said Mr O’Connor. “Councillors were consulted on important matters such as illuminations.

"Now our southern foreshore is left neglected with overgrown bushes and flower beds.

"It is fundamentally wrong that ELDC should continue to take money from amenities and in business rates and use it for the benefit of the whole district.

”Businesses should take a close look at the figures showing how it used to be and then decide on whether they should vote to pay the levy, which as far as I am concerned is a double tax."

Danny Brookes, another local business owner as well as town and district councillor, is one of the business owners facing court for non payment of the levy and launched a campaign to raise awareness earlier this year..

"One hundred and 69 of us were taken to court and 50 of us paid for a barrister to represent us,” he said. “the case was adjourned until December at Lincoln.

"Fliers have gone out to businesses in the High Street to return their ballot papers by the due date because if they are against it and they don’t vote they will have to continue paying this unfair tax.”

Here is what Lincolnshire Coastal BID says:

How many businesses will be voting?

The number of businesses paying the levy has been reduced from 1,200 to 975 for this next term but will still operate with a 15% increase in our budget from that proposed in 2017. This is due to the success of the area in attracting more higher levy payers, such as Premier Inn and Tesco's Mablethorpe. This has enabled us to raise the levy payer base for the smallest businesses from £5,000 to £7,500 rateable value, which will help them but also save on levy collection costs.

Why should businesses vote YES?

If the DBID doesn't get another term, who is going to spend over £1 million pounds in marketing over the next five years? This year alone we have reached over 12 million views of our TV advert’s. Printed adverts or contents advertorials have been circulated through the Nottingham and Leicestershire Aspect and Coach Tours magazines reaching 41,000 readers.

How many events have you supported or organised?

Visit Lincs Coast have supported over 40 events this year alone and across the coast. This year to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee we organised two music events on the same day ‘Great British Band’ tribute events in Skegness and in Mablethorpe. Many of the organisers have told us that if it wasn’t for our support these events would not be brought into fruition.

Who would do your job if you weren't there?

It must be remembered that District Councils have no statutory responsibility to support the Visitor Economy so where would this £500,000 plus per annum come from?

Other coastal BIDs such as Greater Yarmouth are investing up to £4 million back into their districts. There is huge competition and this DBID is the only Destination Management Organisation (DMO) who is strongly flying the flag for the Lincolnshire Coast.