Derby Business Improvement District ballot

What is being proposed

A postal ballot will be held on the proposal to establish the Derby Business Improvement District (Derby BID). Businesses that are eligible under the BID proposal will be able to vote YES or NO.

The ballot is being held under Part 4 of the Local Government Act 2003 and the Business Improvement Districts (England) Regulations 2004.

A Business Improvement District is a defined area where eligible business ratepayers vote on whether to pay an additional levy to fund the services and projects set out in a BID proposal.

The BID proposer is responsible for the proposal, business plan, proposed boundary and levy arrangements. Read the proposal and supporting information on the Derby BID website.

Who runs the ballot

The Returning Officer for Derby City Council is the Ballot Holder. The Council’s Elections team will administer the ballot independently of the BID proposer.

Ballot timetable

The full statutory timetable and voting arrangements will be set out in the Notice of Ballot.

Who can vote

The person entitled to vote for each qualifying property in the proposed BID area will be the non-domestic ratepayer shown in the Council’s records at the date of the Notice of Ballot.

There is one vote for each qualifying rated property, also known as a hereditament. A ratepayer responsible for more than one qualifying property may therefore receive more than one ballot paper.

Eligibility is determined by the BID proposal and the Council’s non-domestic rating records. Contact the Elections team as soon as possible if you think you should be entitled to vote but have not received information about the ballot.

Named voters and proxies

Ballot papers will be sent to the correspondence address held for business rates billing. You can use the named voter/proxy form to tell us the name of the person who should receive the ballot paper. This could be an accounts or property manager at head office, or the local business manager.

Return the form by Friday 18 September 2026 if you want the ballot paper addressed to a named person. If we receive it later, we may not be able to update the addressee before ballot papers are sent.

Appoint a proxy

A person entitled to vote may appoint someone else as a proxy to vote on their behalf. The proxy must have been consulted and must be willing to act.

A completed proxy application must be received by the Elections team by 5pm on Monday 2 November 2026. Only the person entitled to vote needs to sign the form; the proxy does not need to sign it.

How to vote

Ballot papers will be sent by post on Thursday 15 October 2026.

• Read the instructions supplied with each ballot paper.
• Mark one choice only: YES or NO.
• Sign the ballot paper where required.
• Return it using the envelope provided so that it is received by the Ballot Holder by 5pm on Thursday 12 November 2026.

Ballot papers received after the deadline cannot be counted.

Unsigned or unmarked ballot papers, papers where the voter’s intention is uncertain, and duplicate papers carrying the same number or barcode may be rejected. Full details will be included with the ballot paper and in the Notice of Ballot.

Lost, missing or spoilt ballot papers

Contact the Elections team by calling 01332 640837 or emailing elections@derby.gov.uk if a ballot paper has not arrived, has been lost or has been spoilt. Keep any spoilt ballot paper, as you may need to return it before a replacement can be issued.

How the result is decided

For the BID proposal to be approved, both of the following tests must be met:

• More than half of the valid votes cast must be in favour.
• The properties represented by votes in favour must have more than half of the total rateable value represented by all valid votes cast.

If the proposal is approved, the BID levy will apply to all properties that are liable under the BID proposal, regardless of whether or how the ratepayer voted.

The ballot papers will be counted on Friday 13 November 2026. The declaration of result will be published on this page.

Ballot documents

• Notice of Ballot - Derby BID 2026
• Declaration of Result (will be published here on Friday 13 November)

Contact us

For questions about the ballot process please contact the Elections team at Derby City Council.

Email: elections@derby.gov.uk
Telephone: 01332 640837
Post: Elections, Derby City Council, Council House, Corporation Street, Derby, DE1 2FS

For questions about the BID proposal, business plan, levy and projects please contact Derby BID. Do not send completed ballot papers or proxy forms to Derby BID.

Derby BID Manager: Brad Worley

Website: www.derbybid.co.uk
Email: info@derbybid.co.uk
Telephone: 01332 419050