Elgin BID rejected by businesses after Moray Council withdrew backing
A business organisation has narrowly failed to win another five-year term, after the local council refused to vote in favour of it.
The Elgin Business Improvement District (BID) was rejected by a margin of 52 per cent against renewal and 48 per cent in favour.
As a result, the organisation known for Elgin’s Christmas lights event, food and drink festival, and town centre regeneration, will no longer exist after the end of its current term.
In total, 132 votes were cast out of 422 eligible voters - a turnout of 34 per cent.
Of these, 63 votes backed BID’s renewal while 69 opposed it.
At a meeting in January, councillors went against the recommendation of officers to vote that the council should abstain in the ballot on Elgin BID’s renewal.
A Moray Council spokesperson said that, “despite the efforts of Elgin BID’s management and Board of Directors”, the organisation “did not achieve the required level of backing from the business community”.
“Since its establishment in 2010, the BID has supported businesses in the city centre and driven initiatives to enhance the local shopping and leisure environment,” the spokesperson added.
“Key activities have included town centre events, collaborative business support, and regeneration efforts aimed at improving the economic vitality of Elgin.
“With this outcome, Elgin BID board of directors will now decide the next steps as its current term concludes.”
