Cheltenham to abandon Levy?

A consultation opens today (5 September) on the future of the Late Night Levy in Cheltenham.

The consultation is seeking views on the council’s proposal for the Late Night Levy (“levy”) to cease to have effect in Cheltenham from March 2017 in favour of the newly established Business Improvement District (“BID”).

In August 2016 a BID was established in Cheltenham that is expected to generate around £440,000 a year or £2.15 million over the BID’s five-year term and will cover the main town centre, including High Street, the Promenade, the Brewery and Montpellier.

It is proposed that the BID should supersede the levy.  The recommendation was based on:

• The need to ensure that businesses are not unduly burdened by two levies;
• The understanding that levy activities will be incorporated in BID activities; and
• The fact that BID income will be substantially more than the income raised through the levy.

The consultation opens today until Monday 7 November 2016. More information about the consultation and how to respond is available here: 'Late Night Levy Consultation'.

If the council does decide that the Late Night Levy should cease that decision will take effect on 31 March 2017.