Coventry Best 4 Business

The board of Coventry Best for Business held a board meeting on the evening of 27^th October 2009.

The board unanimously agreed that the company should hold an alteration ballot on the future direction of the company at the earliest opportunity.

The board also asked key suppliers to look at any potential cost savings that can be made between now and the time when the result of the alteration ballot is known.

A majority of the board also suspended further expenditure on the ICT infrastructure project until the results of the alteration ballot are known. The Board did acknowledge that this will be inconvenient for some levy payers who were expecting connection to the network in the near future.

The level of expenditure needed for completion of the ICT project is significant.

A vital part of an alteration ballot is consultation with the levy payers. To this end the board encourages the levy payers to give feedback - both positive and negative - regarding the performance of Coventry Best for Business and their view with regard to a future levy.

That can be done through This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . A feedback form is available here

By moving towards an alteration ballot the new board has ensured that the levy payers are going to have the opportunity to make their views known regarding the future of the BID levy at the earliest possible opportunity.

It was encouraging to see that all parties including the Council, the Chamber of Commerce and CV One were very keen to get preparations for alteration ballot underway as soon as possible.

Several board members made the point that it is very important that the levy payers are kept informed at all stages as progression is made towards an alteration ballot and that we should encourage all levy payers to take part in the process.

A number of the board members have taken on the responsibility of setting up an open meeting for all levy payers to attend.

NOTE: Mr Hecks is available for further interview on 01509 505011

The chair of the Coventry BID has described the first meeting of its new-look board as “constructive”.

Brian Hecks, who runs automotive paint business Hex Holdings in the city, was elected as chairman of Coventry Best for Business – the company which delivers the city-wide Business Improvement District scheme. The current chairman, Frank Mills chose to stand down.

He is one of 11 new directors of the original scheme which was designed to bring a range of services to city businesses who pay a levy in return.

Mr Hecks said: “The people elected to the board stood because they want to reform the BID and Coventry Best 4 Business.

“That is not something we can do until we have all the information and understand all the legalities that surround the BID and BID legislation.

“A number of the new directors had not met some of the partners and management of the BID prior to the meeting.

“A lot was explained but we will not be in a position to make any long term decisions on the future of the BID Company until we fully understand the legal position.

“We have another meeting planned for later this month and only then will we be able to start to formulate our plans.

“It was a positive and constructive meeting that is allowing us to move forward.”

Stephen Welch, chief executive of Coventry Best for Business, said: “The first meeting was really for people to get to meet each other and to start to understand the operation and the legal status of the BID.

“That is not a quick process and we will be giving directors all the information and help they need to decide future policy.

“We are here to carry out the wishes of the board and it is our job to put into practice what they decide.”

Stephen Welch, chief executive of Coventry Best for Business - the company which delivers the city-wide Business Improvement District scheme - has offered his congratulations to the successful candidates in the BID board elections process.  

Elections for the 12-person board took place during August, and the results can be seen here

Welch said: “I would like to congratulate the newly elected board members.

“I look forward to working with the new board who will be responsible for shaping the future direction of the BID over the next three years and for ensuring that the BID’s services and benefits reflect the needs of levy payers. 

“I would also like to thank the other 18 candidates who participated in the election.”