Decision details

RESOLVED

That the Cabinet:

1)             notes the achievements and impact of the Town Centre BID during its first term (2019-2024).

2)             agrees the proposal to support the renewal of the Town Centre BID and that the Council will vote ‘Yes’ in favour of the BID and, by doing so, agree to pay the levy on those rateable hereditaments owned by the Council which are located in the BID area, as listed in Appendix A of report PES/469. The cost to the Council to be included within future years budgets if the renewal ballot is successful.

3)             requests the Leader of the Council, as the nominated representative, to cast the ‘YES’ vote in respect of the Council’s eligible hereditaments in the BID boundary area.

4)             approves that the Chief Executive, as Returning Officer and Ballot holder, should hold a ballot for the Town Centre BID renewal.

5)             approves that the Head of Governance, People and Performance be authorised to complete the necessary legal agreements required for the BID levy operation together with any other relevant documentation for the proposed BID renewal.

6)             agrees that the Council continues to perform the role of billing authority for a further five years, collecting the BID levy on behalf of the Town Centre BID, subject to the BID securing renewal.

Reasons for the Recommendations

a)             Since the outcome of the ballot for the Town Centre BID’s initial term permitted a maximum five-year period to 31 March 2025, a renewal ballot for a second term is required amongst Town Centre levy payers to determine whether the majority wish for the Town Centre BID to continue for a further five years. Cabinet is therefore asked to agree to the Town Centre BID’s renewal proposal.

b)             The Council also needs to determine whether it wishes to continue to undertake the role of billing authority, collecting the BID levy on behalf of the BID (subject to legal agreement).

c)             The BID (England) Regulations 2004 require the Council as ‘billing authority’ to instruct the ballot holder to hold the renewal ballot. The ballot holder is the person the relevant billing authority has appointed under section 35 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (a) as the Returning Officer for elections to that authority i.e. the Chief Executive.

d)             Given the Council owns 20 rateable property hereditaments within the Town Centre BID area (with a rateable value of more than £10,000) it will be required to pay a BID levy for those properties (except for 7 properties leased to tenants that are liable for the BID levy) should the BID be renewed for a second term. Details of these hereditaments and their respective liabilities are shown in Appendix A and in paragraphs 6.2.3 to 6.2.5 of report PES/469. This entitles the Council to vote during the period of the BID ballot as a levy payer.

e)             The Council is required to ensure that the process associated with BID renewal and the operation of the Town Centre BID during a second term (subject to a ‘Yes’ vote) is undertaken in accordance with the BID (England) Regulations 2004.