The ballot will be taken entirely by post, with votes to be returned by 5pm on the day of the ballot, which is 16 October 2025.
Who can vote?
Those eligible to vote in this ballot are the non-domestic ratepayers listed in the council's records for each hereditament (rated unit) situated in the geographical area of the proposed BID as at the date of this notice, with a rateable value of £51,000 or more. Ratepayers in receipt of charitable relief, or who are providing public sector services, are exempt from the proposed BID levy and do not have a vote.
Each ratepayer entitled to vote has one vote for each hereditament occupied or (if unoccupied) owned by them in the geographical area of the proposed BID.
Issue of ballot papers
The ballot period will be from 18 September 2025 until 16 October 2025. Voting packs will be posted by first class mail around 16 September 2025.
Close of ballot
To be included in the count, ballot papers must be returned to the Ballot Holder at the Electoral Services Office, Cobbs Hall, 226 Fulham Palace Road, London, SW6 6LL by 5pm, 16 October 2025.
Please note that, if posting, the address to be used for returning ballot papers is The Ballot Holder, London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham, Hammersmith Town Hall, King Street, London, W6 9JU
Who will the ballot paper be sent to?
Ballot papers have to be sent to the address of the hereditament or the principal place of business within England of the person entitled to vote.
Experience from other BID ballots has shown that it is good practice to send ballot papers to named individuals who will be responsible for casting the vote, especially in large businesses.
Electoral Services have already written to ratepayers to ascertain named individuals. There is still time to reply, and the appropriate form is enclosed if your company has not done this already.
The form should be returned by 15 September 2025 to ensure the ballot paper is sent to the correct person.
If no appropriate person is named, the ballot paper will be addressed to "the business ratepayer".
Appointing someone else to vote (a proxy)
The person eligible to vote may appoint any one person as a proxy to vote on their behalf, for example, if they are going to be away at the time of the ballot.
An application to appoint a proxy must be in writing, and:
a) state the full name and address of the person whom the person entitled to vote (the applicant) wishes to appoint as proxy;
b) state the address of the applicant's hereditament
c) be signed by the applicant; and
d) contain a statement by the applicant that the proxy so named has been consulted and is capable of being, and willing to be, appointed.
Please contact the Electoral Services for an application form. Proxy appointments must be received by Electoral Services before 5pm on 6 October 2025, and will be confirmed in writing by the ballot holder.
What if a ballot paper is not received by the voter?
If a ballot paper has not been received by 10 October, an application can be made (whether or not in person) for a replacement to be issued. Evidence of the voter's identity must also be provided.
In such a case, the voter should inform the ballot holder as soon as possible, and not wait until 10 October. This will enable the replacement to be prepared in time for posting or collection on 10 October.
A replacement cannot be issued if the ballot holder is informed after Monday 13 October 2025.
Counting of votes
Ballot papers will be counted on 17 October 2025 and the result will be published that day on the council's website www.lbhf.gov.uk.
For the BID ballot to be successful there must be a majority of those voting in favour of the proposal, both in terms of the numbers voting AND also the aggregate rateable value represented by those voting.
List of persons entitled to vote and their proxies (if any)
A list of each non-domestic ratepayer and the address and rateable value of each hereditament in the geographical area of the proposed BID, is available for inspection at the Electoral Services Office, Hammersmith Town Hall during normal working hours.
The ballot holder can supply a copy of the list, but only for the purpose of canvassing persons entitled to vote in the BID ballot. The list can be requested in writing by the BID proposer, or any person, or group of persons, who represent 5% or more of the persons who are to be liable for any proposed BID levy.
Name and address of the BID proposer
Hammersmith BID
100 Colet Court
London, W6 7JP
Email: info@hammersmithbid.co.uk
Web: www.hammersmithbid.co.uk
The BID proposal is available on request from the BID proposer.
Sharon Lea
Ballot Holder
Electoral Services
London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham
Hammersmith Town Hall
King Street
London, W6 9JU
Tel: 020 8753 2175
Email: electoral.servicesadmin@lbhf.gov.uk
Date of this notice: 4 September 2025