Council set to approve scheme; Businesses will be able to vote for extra services.

Byline: By STEWART SMITH [e-mail]

COVENTRY City Council's cabinet will be asked to approve an American- style scheme to help transform the city centre and give an extra funding boost to local businesses.

Improving the environment for the business sector in Coventry city centre will be a step nearer if the city council joins forces with CV One for a scheme they first "pioneered" more than six years ago.

Coventry set up the prototype for the Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) when the council first appointed CV One to take over the city centre management.

A report going to the cabinet on Tuesday will seek approval of a new sponsorship agreement which, if adopted by local businesses, could be in place as soon as April next year.

The BID will allow businesses in a defined area and business sector to vote on which additional services they wish to pay for in order to improve their operating environment.

The vote is open to tenants and if a majority of those that vote both by number and rateable value, approve the proposal, all business ratepayers will contribute by way of a levy.

Improvements may include: extra security, cleansing and environmental measures as well as extra marketing and promotion.

Cllr Tony O'Neill, deputy leader, of the city council, said: "We already have a very good working partnership with CV One and this would be an extension of that which will bring more benefits to businesses."

Coventry's existing city centre management style has already been copied and has become a model for how to develop BIDs throughout the UK.

Martin Stockdale, strategic business manager for CV One, said: "This is an opportunity for businesses to have a greater say in what additional services they want and CV One has the experience of making sure these services are delivered."