Decision details

(KEY) (1) Amended Business Improvement District Business Plan (appendix 1 of report) approved; (2) The Chief Executive, in liaison with the Deputy Leader of the Council and the BID company, given delegated authority to determine the most appropriate timeline for the ballot to take place; (3) That, subject to (2) above; (a) The Council’s Returning Officer (as ‘ballot holder’) be instructed to proceed with the ballot and require the lead officer for revenues, benefits and service support to supply up to date rating list information in suitable format to the ballot contractor. (b) The Chief Finance Officer given delegated authority – (i) to determine the statement of baseline services and baseline agreement and to review the agreement annually; and (ii) if the ballot is successful, to operate a BID revenue account and pass over relevant monies to the BID company. (c) Expected costs of the ballot (c.£3,500) will be met by the council. (d) The Director of Service Delivery be given delegated authority – (i) to approve the BID operating agreement; (ii) to vote in favour of the BID in respect of business hereditaments held by the council within the BID area; and (iii) if the ballot is successful, to administer, bill, collect and enforce levies under the BID scheme. (e) Note that the council’s Returning Officer is permitted to delegate his responsibilities to others and that he has engaged the services of Electoral Reform Services Ltd to undertake the ballot on his behalf. (f) Agree that the initial ‘one-off’ software costs required to collect the BID levy (c.£20,000) will be met by the council. (g) Note that the council’s reasonable costs of collecting the levy and the associated financial management costs will be recoverable from the BID levy monies (paragraph 8.4 of the report to Cabinet on 22 March 2017).