THE Chippenham BID has been accused of shrouding itself in secrecy by a local business owner after failing to reveal details of its full accounts.

Edward Kirk, who runs Scholars, in The Causeway, asked Chippenham Town Council to publish the income and expenditure figures of the private company two weeks ago to help explain to levy payers where their money is going.

Mr Kirk, who is also a Wiltshire councillor, thinks that the BID should host councillors on the board while vacancies are filled.

“It is a private company, the council puts in and the businesses put in and the levy payers should have the rights to see the accounts,” he said.

“It is shrouded in secrecy and the governing plans say we are entitled to see the information.

“I’m not against the BID but I believe it is in the interest of the BID to put councillors in place rather than recruiting more directors from the same industries.

“This could just be a temporary measure until the stipulated directors are available. The BID can work and be an asset to Chippenham, but not with this set-up and level of financial burden on the smaller businesses.

Antony Bulley, the chairman of the board of directors at the Chippenham BID said: “Chippenham BID has always welcomed membership from levy paying businesses to encourage engagement and involvement from those businesses in the work Chippenham BID does.

“It is also part of Chippenham BID’s constitution that appointed representatives from levy paying businesses must become members to access the full accounts and vote at AGMs etc., and both the officers and directors of Chippenham BID have encouraged Mr Kirk to become a member of the company when he has raised his queries; an offer he has consistently declined.”

The town council said it was not its place to divulge the BID’s financial position.