Moray Council has voted to continue to back Elgin’s business improvement district, despite questions raised over its effectiveness.
The authority’s economic development and infrastructure committee was asked to support its re-balloting.
Fochabers Lhanbryde councillor Marc Macrae asked what the point in the group was during an Economic Development and Infrastructure meeting yesterday.
He said: “My main question looking at this paper is why?
“Looking at what they do, business members bulletins, mediation for members, free business workshops, promotion of business members, we already have excellent organisations that are very active in Moray, one called the Chamber of Commerce which does a fantastic job on behalf of business members across all sectors.
“We have Business Gateway who offer business workshops, we have HIE who support all businesses of all distinctions, I just don’t understand the need for duplication with very little being returned.”
Elgin City South councillor Graham Leadbitter highlighted the different ways the organisation has helped not only the town but the region.
He said: “Elgin BID work extremely closely with a number of other organisations in Moray including the Chamber of Commerce, Business Gateway and Moray Speyside Tourism.
“Over the years they have been responsive to business needs in Elgin, in that they have run a number of very successful events that supported particular sectors.
“They hold a variety of theme days throughout the year as well as taking on the Christmas lights which were previously done by Elgin Common Good, so there is a huge amount going on to support businesses.”
Elgin City South councillor John Divers mentioned the fact there are now seven BIDs in the north of Scotland as a sign that more towns are becoming supportive of the benefits they have to offer.
