Welcome to the March 2015 update.
Thank you for your patience during our first year of existence. The year started slowly as we organised all the legal requirements to run a limited company. We have made every attempt to spend your money wisely and, as you will see from the statement of our accounts (not yet audited), this has resulted in quite a large underspend for the year financial year 2014-2015.
The summary includes the income from levy payments, what we have spent it on and a forecast for the year 2015-2016.
We have realised that running the BID as a voluntary group, without paid assistance, has slowed the implementation of many of our aims and objectives and we needed to address this issue.
The solution we have decided upon is to re-allocated the 2014 -2015 underspend, spreading it over the next four years. This has allowed us to advertise for a part time BID Manager. We hope to have someone in place by early May.
The money allocated to the three areas – Pride, Promote and Professional Otley remains the same.
As an Otley BID Levy payer we have secured you membership to Otley Chamber of Trade (OCT) for 2015 at no additional cost. Existing Chamber members (who are BID Levy payers) have already seen their 2015 membership renewed (a saving of £47). If you want to join Otley Chamber of Trade please complete the application form and return it to address given in the top right corner of the form. Please visit www.otleychamber.co.uk for information on a membership benefits.
As soon as our accounts have been audited (late April or early May) we will hold our AGM. All our levy payers will receive an invitation to attend.
Chamber of Trade Application Form.