More than 300 Felixstowe businesses are to be asked to vote in favour of paying an extra levy on top of their existing business rates.

East Suffolk Council's cabinet voted unanimously to ballot those all businesses which fall within the Felixstowe Business Improvement District area, and already pay more than £5,000 in business rates.

The move was made to raise £740k direct investment for the development, marketing, and improvement of Felixstowe's businesses over the next five years.

This funding represents a significant investment in the Felixstowe BID area and one which provides an opportunity for the BID to lever in additional investment via the Local Enterprise Partnership and other funding bodies.

BIDs on average generate 15% in additional income and the Business Plan assumes an additional income of £111k. ESC's contribution through the BID levy will be in the order of £19k over five years.

According to the cabinet papers from Felixstowe Forward working in partnership with Mosiac, the Business Plan indicates the key areas most needed by the businesses, together with the following amounts of investment over the five-year plan are:

• Local and Visitor marketing 54%
• Access and Wayfinding 15%
• Business Support 6%

The Felixstowe BID area incorporates a T-shaped Hamilton Road from the Orwell Hotel down to the bottom Bent Hill, then along the seafront from the Spa Pavilion to beyond Manning's Amusements to Beach Road, involving approximately 320 businesses.

East Suffolk leader and Felixstowe councillor Steve Gallant said "It is important that we do everything we can to help businesses and empower them to help themselves. These bids are producing positive results in various areas around the country and encouraging Government to open various funding pots.

Steve Wiles: "I look at the reopening of the High Street as showing how much co-operation between business people is needed. Basically, by pulling in one direction they will be able to move forward and take control of their own destiny."

Trimley ward representative and cabinet member for housing, Richard Kerry: said: "It is a difficult time and it up to businesses whether they want to proceed with this.

"Equally up to us to give them the tools so they can get on with it."

Affected business would be engaged in an initial consultation first to ensure there was an appetite for the ballot which will be held between October 13 and November 11, with a simple majority enough for the levy to be implemented, or not.

If passed East Suffolk Council, that has 11 premises which would be affected will be liable for an increased bill of £3,706 per annum for a minimum of five years.

The cabinet agree although entitled to 11 votes, it would only vote once so as not to be seen unduly influencing the result.

Felixstowe Forward's bid to cabinet comes after days after a letter by a coalition of groups representing resorts, urging the prime minister to appoint a minister dedicated to coastal communities.