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Hounslow’s Heart Business Improvement District
Levy rules:
1. The BID term is for 5 years from 1 December 2025 to 30th November 2030.
2. The Business Improvement District levy applies to all persons or organisations liable to pay the non-domestic rates for eligible hereditaments located within the Business Improvement District Area.
3. The BID levy is be charged on all properties in the BID area which appear in the rating list with a non-domestic rateable value (RV) of £10,000 or more.
4. The number of hereditaments liable for the levy is approximately 402.
5. The BID levy is be collected annually and the charging period is from 1 December to 30 November, it started 1 December 2025. The person or company responsible for the non domestic rates on the 1 December of each chargeable period will be liable for the entire year’s charge. No refunds will be made.
6. The BID levy is currentlt 1.75% of the non-domestic rateable value as of the first day of the BID term on 1st December 2025 for the 5-year term.
7. The Board will have the ability to increase the levy rate by up to 2.5% each year to account for inflation (at their discretion).
8. There will be a discounted levy rate of 1.5% levy for occupiers in the Treaty Shopping Centre and a further 50% discount for vacant units within the Treaty Shopping Centre.
9. The BID levy contribution per hereditament is to be capped at £15,000.
10.The BID levy will have to be paid by a new ratepayer occupying an existing or new rateable property within the BID area up until the end of the five year term on 30th November 2030, even if they did not vote in the ballot.
11. Any new commercial development, sub-division of existing properties or merging of properties or new businesses with a non-domestic rateable valuation of or above the threshold coming into the BID area during the five-year lifetime of the BID will be liable for the levy at the rateable value effective as of the next chargeable day (1st December).
12. Where a property is taken out of rating (e.g. due to demolition or a split or merger) the BID levy for that individual property will be due up to the next chargeable day (1st December).
13. A ratepayer/property owner will be liable to pay the BID levy on an unoccupied property without any void period.
14. Voluntary membership of the BID will be available to non-levy paying businesses at the discretion of the Board.
BID Governance:
Hounslow’s Heart BID recognises the importance of accountability and transparency within its governance arrangements. There will be a detailed set of protocols which will cover the management of the BID
Company and billing, collecting and transfer of the BID levy
1. The Proposer of the new BID was West London Chambers of Commerce and the BID Body, which is deliveringh the business plan, Is Hounslow’s Heart BID Ltd, a not-for-profit organisation, limited by guarantee.
2. The Board can be made of up to 12 Directors, the majority of which are levy payers, and includes one representative from the Local Authority.
3. All levy payers are eligible to stand for the Board, and can nominate themselves, or another levy payer, to become a member of the BID board, limited to one eligible person from each eligible property.
4. The Board meets at least four times per year and is be responsible for governance matters such as financial arrangements, contractual obligations, human resources, standards, performance and compliance.
5. The Board of the BID may nominate and appoint Directors. The Board has appointed a Chair and Vice-Chair from the Directors on the Board.
6. Nominations of directors, non-voting representatives or advisors from outside the BID, who do not pay the levy and who may or may not represent those making voluntary or other financial contributions toward the BID, is strictly at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
7. Other non-voting members or local groups may be co-opted onto the Board at the Board’s discretion.
8. The Board has the flexibility to modify or adjust projects and services each year in response to changing economic conditions or new opportunities, always prioritising the interests of the levy payers without needing an alteration ballot. However, any change to the BID boundary or to the levy rate proposals would require an alteration ballot.
9. The BID will file annual accounts at Companies House. The accounts will be available to all levy payers upon request.
10. The BID will monitor performance against annual objectives and will report to levy payers at least once a year. Regular updates through email bulletins, social media and business visits will keep businesses informed. An annual report will provide information to businesses on the activities of the BID, including finances, with the levy invoices.
11. Businesses will have the opportunity to provide feedback to the BID via an annual survey, business visits and meetings.
12. The BID will seek to secure the British BIDs Accreditation, an award in respect of internal quality management systems. It will seek to retain Accreditation throughout its term.
13. The Company meets with Hounslow Council, as the Billing Authority, no less than twice a year to monitor the BID levy collection procedures.
14. An Operating Agreement between the Council and the BID, which covers the collection and monitoring of the BID levy collection, and the Council’s Baseline service commitments has been agreed with the Council.
BID Levy Collection:
1. Hounslow Council collects the levy on behalf of Hounslow’s Heart BID, ensuring complete transparency, security of money collected and auditable collection procedures. The levy is be lodged in a BID Revenue Account which can only be accessed by the BID Board to finance the delivery of the Business Plan.
2. Hounslow Council is charging £37,167 in year 1, £11,079 in years 2, 3, 4 and 5 for the collection of the BID levy, which is included in the BID’s Operating Costs.
3. Any non-payment of the levy will be strongly pursued, and statutory powers will be enforced to ensure fairness to those levy payers that have paid. The Council will be entitled to charge an additional fee to the levy amount to meet any additional costs incurred in the recovery of the levy