THE Flavel arts centre is not being charged a levy by the town's business improvement district, it was revealed this week.

But the town centre venue for music and performance, which has a retail wing, may find itself on the billing list in future.

BID manager Francesca Johnson said the Flavel – which is home to a theatre, cinema, bar and cafe, and has exhibition and event space for hire – had escaped payment because of its charitable status.

'But charges may have to be made in the future,' she told a meeting of Dartmouth Town Council on Monday.

Ms Johnson said the Flavel had been exempt because it was a not-for-profit charity, the same as voluntary organisations.

'Now, because they operate a bar and sell tickets, we have been asked to investigate this,' she said.

'The BID board followed the rules as we believed, but if an error has been made it will be corrected.'

Cllr Francis Hawke said if that was the case, shouldn't other businesses in the town that were being charged £150 and 'getting back nothing whatsoever' also be considered for exemption?

'If we can exempt the Flavel and the cafe, which I expect is making a reasonable profit, why should we not be considering exempting other businesses from this levy,' he asked?

He said he supported the BID but it was unfortunate it had got off to a bad start, which turned many people against it.

And he said the 'word on the street' was that the people on the BID board and supporters were making money out of it.

But district and county councillor Jonathan Hawkins praised the efforts of the BID team.

'I have first-hand experience of the BID in Torbay for the last five years, which had been a complete and utter disaster,' he said.

'But the Dartmouth BID is totally different, with everybody doing all they can to understand the issues and concerns that some people have in the town.

'They are trying their best and spending a huge amount of time and effort trying to sort out these problems. We are where we are and have to move forward.

'From my experience, BIDs don't work. But I think the Dartmouth BID will because you have people who really care.'

Earlier BID chairman and hotelier Nigel Way had made a plea for everyone to work together and he said in the last six to eight months the BID had seen an incredible amount of success. He said: 'We are not an alternative power base or a threat to anybody.

'My aim is that we will be a facilitator for the whole of the town.

'The money is coming from the business community and we have to look after the business community. But we are also mindful of the whole community.

'We are not the bank of Dartmouth but we are in the business of helping people. We are putting out that hand of friendship to absolutely everybody.'

And he said the BID was not asking the town council for finance but was asking for its support.

'I apologise if you think we are too corporate but we do have look at Dartmouth as Dartmouth plc, which we are all part of,' he said.

Ms Johnson said the past 12 months had been tough but she believed the tide was turning as people were starting to understand what the BID was about. She said she hoped the town council could collaborate with the BID towards developing a united 'town team'.

Cllr Paul Allen reminded the meeting the town council was not a business but an elected body and there were certain things it 'couldn't or shouldn't do'.

And referring to next year's business plan, Cllr Dave Cawley said people working together and using computers was all very good, but didn't require £170,000.

Cllr Tony Fyson said the town's not-for-profit community bookshop was one of those eligible for a discount which it 'put back in the pot' to support the BID.

BID founder Paul Reach urged caution with the BID taking on too many projects.

He said the BID had been set up to help businesses in the town and it should not try to do everything.