Businesses and residents invited to help review the work of Worthing’s Business Improvement District
Released: Wednesday, 25 February 2026
Businesses and residents are being invited to get involved in the annual review of the Worthing Business Improvement District (BID) on how they are working to support town centre businesses, in partnership with Worthing Borough Council and others.
The town has had a business improvement district since 2008, which is managed by the Worthing Town Centre BID. The business-led and funded organisation aims to develop projects that will benefit Worthing town centre businesses and is currently in its fourth term, which is up for renewal in 2028.
The main objectives of the Worthing BID are to promote the town centre and its businesses, improve the town’s visual appeal and ensure it is safe and welcoming. This includes driving footfall by holding appealing markets, events and activities as well as offering business advice and support.
While BIDs operate independently, the council maintains oversight by holding the power to veto proposals that conflict with local policies, and acting as the billing authority that collects and passes on the levy that businesses pay to the BID to fund it.
The council shares many of the BID’s objectives and is investing in Worthing’s seafront and the town centre to make the area more attractive to visitors and residents, including widespread repairs and the repainting of benches, railings and bins.
Partnership working is an important focus for the council and there are monthly meetings between both organisations to discuss shared projects and initiatives, as well as exploring ways to work together more effectively.
Representatives from Worthing BID will be attending Adur & Worthing Councils’ next Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee (JOSC) meeting to review the progress and performance of their activities.
JOSC is an elected watchdog, comprising councillors from across Adur and Worthing, and is responsible for holding decision-makers - both within and outside the councils - to account.
The committee will also consider whether a JOSC Working Group should be appointed to review the governance and performance of Worthing BID in relation to support for town centre businesses and the council’s effectiveness in overseeing the BID’s responsibilities.
The meeting takes place from 6.30pm on Thursday 5th March in the Gordon Room at Worthing Town Hall, and the committee is inviting residents and business owners to send in questions for the public question time section.
Public questions can be submitted to the committee by emailing democratic.services@adur-worthing.gov.uk by midday on Monday 2nd March.
To find out more about Worthing BID, visit https://worthingtowncentre.co.uk/business-improvement-district/ or https://democracy.adur-worthing.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=163&MId=2161 to read more about what will be discussed at the JOSC meeting.
Photo: Worthing town centre
(PR26-021)
Page last updated: 25 February 2026