Business Improvement District (BID) Ballot 2026

Milton Keynes BID Ballot 2026

Milton Keynes City Council will be conducting a ballot from 24 September - 22 October 2026 on proposals for a Business Improvement District (BID) within a defined area of Central Milton Keynes.

Eligible business ratepayers within the proposed BID area will be invited to vote on whether the BID should be established for a five-year term. Further details of the BID proposal is available on the BID proposer's website: My Milton Keynes

What is a Business Improvement District (BID)?

A Business Improvement District (BID) is a defined geographical area in which eligible businesses vote on whether to invest collectively in additional projects and services to support the local economy.

If approved through a ballot, businesses within the BID area pay a levy, which is used to fund activities and improvements identified in the BID Business Plan. These activities are delivered in addition to services already provided by the local authority and other public bodies. 

Business Improvement Districts are business-led partnerships established under the Local Government Act 2003 and the Business Improvement Districts (England) Regulations 2004. 

More information about BIDs is available on the GOV.UK website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/business-improvement-districts.

More information about the My Milton Keynes BID is available on the My Milton Keynes website.

The Role of Milton Keynes City Council

Milton Keynes City Council has a number of statutory responsibilities in relation to a BID ballot. These include:

1. Acting as the ballot holder and administering the ballot process.
2. Providing information on council services relevant to the proposed BID area.
3. Collecting the BID levy on behalf of the BID Company, should the ballot be successful.

The Council's role is to ensure that the ballot is conducted fairly and in accordance with the relevant legislation. Sharon Bridglalsingh is the BID Ballot Holder.

The Ballot

Businesses that would be liable to pay the BID levy are entitled to vote in the ballot.

To be successful, the BID proposal must achieve:

• A simple majority of the votes cast; and
• A majority of the total rateable value represented by those voting.

Each eligible hereditament (business property) receives one vote. A person or organisation responsible for more than one eligible property may therefore be entitled to cast more than one vote. 

If the BID proposal is approved, all eligible businesses within the BID area will be required to pay the BID levy, regardless of whether they voted or how they voted in the ballot.

BID Ballot Timetable

BID Notices

The following documents will be published here when available:

• Notice of Ballot
• Declaration of Result

Results

The result of the Central Milton Keynes BID Ballot 2026 will be published on this page following the close of the poll.

Further Information

For information about the BID proposal, please contact the BID proposer directly on the details below:

Jill Farnsworth, Chief Executive, MyMiltonKeynes BID (01908 395099 / jill@mymiltonkeynes.co.uk)
Cassy Staal, Finance & Office Manager, MyMiltonKeynes BID (01908 395099 / cassy@mymiltonkeynes.co.uk)

For information about the ballot process, contact:

Peter Taylor - Electoral Services Manager
Electoral Services
Milton Keynes City Council
elections@milton-keynes.gov.uk