Clonmel ratepayers invited to information meeting about Business Improvement District vote

Clonmel's ratepayers are invited to attend an important information meeting ahead of their plebiscite on whether to set up a Business Improvement District company to work to improve the prosperity and vibrancy of the town.

The information meeting will take place in the Talbot Hotel in Clonmel on March 9 at 7.30pm and is being organised by Clonmel’s BID proponents comprising a range of local business people as well as Tipperary Chamber CEO Michelle Aylward and Clonmel Town Team Chairman Noel Buckley.

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Mr Buckley said the information will be about the upcoming plebiscite asking the town’s ratepayers whether they want a BID company to be established for the town.

He stressed the meeting will also be an opportunity for ratepayers to ask questions, share feedback and engage directly with the BID team about the ballot and the ideas the team has come up with for the BID to roll out for the town over the next five years if its establishment is approved.

The postal ballot was originally scheduled to take place before Christmas but was delayed due to a technical issue.

Mr Buckley said they are now ready to go ahead with the ballot following the completion of the public consulation process. He pointed out an overwhelming 226 of the 235 public submissions were in favour of establishing the BID.

“We were delighted with the response and, also in my capacity as Clonmel Town Team Chairman, travelling around to businesses I have been amazed at the number of people asking me when is the vote taking place?”

He outlined the plebiscite process will be initiated when the BID team send a written notice to Tipperary County Council on March 18.

The postal ballot will take place between April 14 and May 13 and will be run by Tipperary County Council, independent of the BID proponents. The ballot is governed by legislation.

Ratepayers will be sent a pre-paid envelope and invited to post their ballot to the Council’s Civic Offices in Clonmel.

Mr Buckley said the result of the plebiscite will be announced shortly after the close of the ballot. If a majority of ratepayers vote in favour of setting up a BID company, the proposal will be brought before Tipperary County Council’s plenary meeting on June 8 for formal approval.

If established, Clonmel’s BID will be funded through a levy paid by all the town’s ratepayers from the small shop owner to multi-national industries and large chain stores.

The levy will be calculated on a formula based on the commercial rate bill paid by each rate payer. Mr Buckley said the BID levy would be about €50 for every €1,000 a ratepayer pays in rates.

It’s estimated the Clonmel BID levy will generate an annual fund of €350,000 with the potential to use that fund to leverage for other funding to invest in initiatives to improve footfall in the town and the town’s prosperity.

The BID company will be run by a CEO and a board comprising ratepayers, a Clonmel Borough District councillor and Tipperary County Council official. It will operate for five years after which ratepayers will vote again on whether to continue the BID.

“If it’s not working in the interests of ratepayers and the interests of the town, it risks being voted out of existence,” Mr Buckley added.

Clonmel’s BID proposal is available to view at Tipperary County Council Civic Offices in Clonmel. Ratepayers with queries or who want a copy of the proposal should email: bidsclonmel@gmail.com.

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