Southport's Business Improvement District (BID) was voted in in 2014.
The idea behind the initiative is that local businesses can identify projects or services that will add value to their operations.
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The businesses pay funds - a BID levy - and this money is then to be used to make these things happen.
In its first two years alone, the BID was been responsible for a number of projects including 10,000 sq m of high pressure street cleaning, half a million new lights on Lord Street, floral and planting schemes throughout the town centre.
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The BID has also added two new events to the Southport calendar with the Halloween Festival and the Christmas Lights Switch On, as well as supporting the Southport Festival and the town's comedy festival.
But since its inception, a number of business-owners have bemoaned having to pay the BID levy - often saying they don't feel they get a return on their investment.
Alison Evans said: "I've yet to see what the BID has achieved, apart from taking money from local businesses."
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Laura Wearing said: "The BID has made Southport worse, not better. Get rid of it and we can put the money into our town."
Andrew Winn said: "Absolute waste of time and money, do nothing at all for the town that any business-owners can see - apart from people in bowler hats who walk around doing nothing."
Lisa O'Hare said: "Get rid and stop taking money off local businesses, as if we don't give out enough."
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Others, however, are all for the BID.
Grant Tindell said: "The assistance of the BID makes the town more attractive to visitors, with the help of things like marketing and internal summer and winter displays.
"They do a lot more than people think just because they're not on the streets with brushes in their hands doesn't mean they are not doing anything!"
Nicola Cherry said: "Are people forgetting the Christmas switch-on which brings thousands of people into Southport?
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"And all the planters along Lord Street, the workshops to help business owners and the social media accounts used solely to promote businesses in the town?"
As its first five years draws to a close, people in Southport will soon vote again on whether or not they want the town to have a BID.
If agreed, this second term would run from 2019 to 2024.
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BID says the levy businesses contribute would bring around £2million across this period to be invested directly into the town, in addition to the investment that the BID would proactively attract into Southport.
Hugh Evans, Chief Executive of Southport BID, said: “We came into operation during a challenging time for towns and cities up and down the country, and it’s an environment that’s remained ever-changing.
"Against this background we’ve seen the role of the BID grow in importance within Southport as a positive force for marketing, events and town centre improvements and resources, as well as attracting and securing vital inward investment. As a voice for businesses we’ve also been able to provide powerful private sector representation to protect the interests of our members.
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“Our achievements are already considerable, and a second five year term would give us the chance to build on these, ensuring a thriving Southport for years to come."
Rob Uffendell, Chair of Southport BID, added: “We know that increasing footfall and expenditure is key to the businesses that we represent, that the creation of business opportunities is critical, as is securing investment opportunities for the town.
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"The way that we will achieve success in these areas is through strong collaboration and partnership work, vibrant and colourful plans for our events programme and an ambitious belief in the inward investment that we can achieve.”
Southport BID Ballot papers will be dispatched to businesses on May 6, with the result announced on June 4.
All Southport businesses within the BID district with a rateable value threshold of above £7,000 will be eligible to vote.
