Dorchester Business Improvement District bill information

About the BID

BID stands for Business Improvement District (BID). It does not replace the statutory activities or services carried out by the council, police or other public agencies. It is an arrangement under which local businesses improve their own trading environment and agree via a BID operating company how the levy should be spent on a range of projects to boost the town centre, trading environment and increase footfall. 

The Dorchester BID is operated by Dorchester BID Limited, a wholly independent, non-profit distributing company limited by guarantee. It has a board of directors made up of 12 members elected from all business sectors. 

The current Dorchester BID term operates for 5 years. It started on 1 August 2018 and ended on 31 July 2023.

A ballot was carried out in June 2018 and all businesses in the BID area were given the opportunity to vote for or against the BID levy. The result of the ballot was a 'yes' vote, therefore all businesses liable for the levy are required to pay. View the ballot results.

Read the BID business plan to see what projects and initiatives the BID are delivering.

View the Dorchester BID Annual Report.

Find out more on the Dorchester BID website.

Paying your bill

BID legislation requires local authorities to be the billing body. We pay all money collected directly to the BID operating company (Dorchester BID Limited). 

The bill is due in one annual instalment and should be made to Dorset Council (not the BID direct) using one of our payment methods.

The Dorchester BID business plan makes no allowance to accept payments by instalments.

How your bill is calculated

Your annual BID bill will show the rate at which your BID levy is calculated.

The BID levy is set at a rate of 1.0% of the rateable value of your property at 1 August each year for businesses with a rateable value of £3000 or more. If you own 2 or more properties in the BID area, you will receive 2 separate BID bills.

The levy will change if the rateable value of the property also changes.

Problems paying your bill

BID Statutory Instruments state that levy invoices must be issued by the council on the anniversary of the levy.

If you experience difficulty in paying the BID levy, you should contact Dorchester BID.

Refusing to pay

It is hoped that all businesses will see the benefits of contributing to the BID. In the event of non-payment, we will recover any sums due in line with normal recovery processes on behalf of the BID operating company (Dorchester BID Limited). This may mean that defaulters receive a final notice and may face ultimately court proceedings. However, we will liaise with the BID to discuss such cases and the BID will encourage payment for the benefit of all.

Moving and empty properties

The BID does not require payment of the levy for unoccupied properties.

If you vacate your property after 1 August, you will be required to pay the BID levy in full for the year.

Reductions on rateable value

Reductions on rateable value will be taken into full consideration when calculating the levy for current and future years. However, reductions or increases in rateable value will only apply from 1 August following the amendment.

Business properties included in the BID levy

The BID area is defined in the BID business plan.

All businesses in the BID area with a rateable value of £3000 and above will receive a BID bill, apart from a small number of exempt properties (including non-retail charities) which will not pay a levy.

Business rates

Business Rates and the BID levy are completely separate.

Business rates are a statutory local tax levied to provide generic services by the local authority.

The BID levy will pay for specific services and functions which may be on top of services that the council provides. These additional services are decided by the Dorchester BID Board in consultation with all businesses in the BID footprint area (see below) to increase footfall and consumer spend within the BID area. 

Contact Dorchester BID

The Dorchester BID Manager, and members of the board, will be happy to discuss the aims of the BID and to hear any questions or concerns you may have. Please contact the Dorchester BID Office.