Poor timing – that's the decision of Dorchester town councillors being called on to involve themselves in the accreditation of the town's BID.

Independent councillor Alistair Chisholm had called for the town council to step in, as a Business Improvement District member, and ask for the organisation to seek official accreditation.

He says that, at the moment, the BID has nothing to measure its performance against objectives, but should have if it is to convince members that it offers value for money.

Cllr Chisholm says that the Dorchester BID, where all businesses have to pay an annual levy, is one of the oldest in the country, but has not sought accreditation, as many others have, including Weymouth.

But his plea has been rejected by fellow town councillors.

Said committee chairman Cllr Susie Hosford: "Now is not the time to divert their attention to accreditation when we all need to concentrate on helping the town recover."

Cllr Molly Rennie, who represents the council on the BID, said she had found the organisation welcoming and open to ideas and had not heard any complaints about its performance. She said the organisation's accounts and plans were readily available for all to see on its website.

Cllr Gareth Jones said he had been working well with the BID on the forthcoming launch of a new tourist partnership for the county town and said that, while he understood the point Cllr Chisholm was making, now was not the time to press the point, especially as there appeared to be no appetite for accreditation from other BID members.

The meeting heard that accreditation would be likely to cost the BID around £1,500 a year.

Cllr Chisholm said that he still believed the BID should be measuring its performance, whatever else was happening, more so at a time when some members might be struggling to pay their levy: "There are businesses paying the levy who are not happy with the way the BID is running…I have been aware of an uneasiness for several years," he told the town council policy meeting.

Committee chairman Cllr Susie Hosford said she had not heard of any uncertainty but said that, if there was, BID members should take their views to the organisation itself.

Cllr Chisholm has previously claimed that the BID had collected around £1.5m in fees during its 12-year existence with 'very little to show for it.'

The BID held reserves totalling £213,000 at December 31, 2020 and its annual report detailed £130,000 of expenditure.

The BID will next be subject to a re-ballot process in August 2023.

BID project director Phil Gordon previously responded to Cllr Chisholm's criticism by producing an extensive list of the BID's activities over the years, including support for its members throughout the pandemic lockdown.

Other support includes the Dorchester Ambassadors scheme; organising Christmas trees and lights on which it has spent £100,000 in the past 12 years; subsidising local media adverting for its members; publishing maps and guides to the town for visitors and residents; car parking vouchers; its website and social media promoting the town; sponsoring special events including the Dorchester marathon and literary festival; supplying hanging baskets, flags and other items to brighten up the streets; summer live music events; shop watch radio and producing a series of 29 videos which have achieved 75,000 hits online.