BUTE’S business community has roundly rejected a second term for the island’s business improvement district, or BID.
The body had been transformed over the past year into a competent voice representing the business community, but that was not enough to convince levy-payers to support its continuation.
The man brought in to lead its transformation, Phil Prentice, said: “The Isle of Bute Business Improvement District is no more. The businesses on the island have clearly said that they don’t want it. So be it.
“As adviser to the Board, this defeat falls on my shoulders squarely. I’m extremely deflated, a personal failure.”
There were 162 votes out of a total electorate of 251. One ballot paper was spoiled and rejected. Of the 161 votes counted, 60 people said yes, with 101 voting no.
At least 25 per cent of those entitled to vote did so, giving Argyll and Bute depute returning officer David Logan the authority to confirm: “The BID proposals were not approved.”
The current chair of the BID group, now preparing to fold, Duncan Martin, told The Isle of Bute News he is very disappointed with the result of the vote.
“I get it and I respect it and I’m not going to take it personally.
“But I am so disappointed for what the island’s going to miss out on.
“If you don’t have a BID, what do you have? There is no Plan B.”
The directors of the BID are now winding down the company and will be following guidance on how to dispose of the assets, including decorations and equipment.
Founding chair of Bute BID, John Glen, formerly managing director of Bute Fabrics, is saddened but not surprised by the lack of support for a second term.
He was at the forefront of the Bute BID, at a time when the body was often prefixed by words like beleaguered, troubled or controversial. Not now, said its former chair: “Phil Prentice has done a phenomenal job to get things in place.
“The naysayers have led us to a very poor decision.”
Bute Councillor Reeni Kennedy-Boyle said: “It is very, very sad. We have lost a voice in Bute.
“The people on the BID were doing a really good job speaking up for Bute, but it’s a democratic process and businesses have voted no.”
This result in the business sector comes as Bute loses its community council because of a lack of people willing to undertake the challenge of running the organisation.
Bute now faces the reality of a lack of local collective representation in both business and the community at a time when it is recognised as vital to generate increased profile and revenues, not least through tourism and events.
Cllr Kennedy-Boyle said it is time for people to reflect on what has been lost and unlikely to be replaced any time soon.
“The BID was having excellent conversations and working well with the local authority.
“Bute Community Council has also been playing a very important role, not just in Rothesay.”
She said there are many organisations working to help make Bute a better place to live and work, but the island will be poorer for the loss of the collective voices of the community and business.
Long-time critic of the Bute BID is businessman Tim Saul. He is not surprised by the result of the ballot.
“I invested a lot of time in trying to persuade the (original) BID board to improve their governance, and communications with levy-payers, both of which were demonstrably poor. At that time, they were reluctant to acknowledge these issues. Despite repeated promises, little changed.
“The ballot result was therefore unsurprising, but the collapse of the supporting yes vote was the main reason that the ballot resulted in a rejection of the BID renewal.
“It should be noted that the outgoing board had actually made significant improvements in governance and communications with levy-payers, but probably too late to save the day.”
Mr Saul added it was obvious levy-payers had lost confidence in the concept of the BID, despite the efforts of Phil Prentice to persuade businesses they were getting good value for their money.
The decision in Bute comes as the BID programme across Scotland comes under closer scrutiny. A second term has been rejected in Peterhead, but further terms have been supported in Falkirk, Lerwick and St Andrews.
Colin Moulson of the Dunoon Presents BID, now in its third term, commented: “It is vitally important that the benefits the BID brings to the town are unmissable to both the business and local communities.
“This visibility brings a confidence that the project is delivering real, tangible growth for the town and wider area.”
The tag line promoting the Bute BID is on the front page of its website, also soon to close. That tag line simply says: “Working with Bute businesses for the betterment of the island.”
