Issue - meetings

Report of Director of Service Delivery

Lead Cabinet member: Councillor Alan Shuttleworth

(Key decision):

(1) That the Business Improvement District (BID) Plan as set out at appendix 1 to the report be approved.

(2) To approve the BID ballot date and to authorise the Council’s Returning Officer (as ‘ballot holder’) to proceed with the ballot and require the Functional Lead for Growth and Prosperity to supply up to date rating list information to the ballot contractor.

(3) That the Chief Finance Officer be given delegated authority to:-

i. determine the statement of baseline services and baseline agreement annually.

ii. operate a BID revenue account and pass over monies to the BID company.

(4) To confirm that the expected costs of the ballot (c. £3,400) would be met by the Council.

(5) To agree that the initial ‘one off’ software costs required to collect the levy (c. £22,500) would be met by the Council.

(6) To agree that the Council would pay the estimated annual

BID levy cost (c. £5,600) for Council owned properties within the BID boundary.

(7) That the Director of Service Delivery be given delegated authority to:-

i. approve the operating agreement.

ii. vote in favour of the BID area in respect of the Council owned properties that fall within the BID area.

iii. administer, bill and collect the levies under the BID scheme.

iv. review the costs associated with the Council’s administration and collection of the BID levy at the end of year 1, should the ballot be successful.

(8) To note that the Council’s reasonable costs of collecting the levy and the associated financial management costs would be recoverable from the BID levy monies, as specified in paragraph 8.4 of the report.

(9) To note that the Council’s Returning Officer be permitted to delegate his responsibilities to others and that he has engaged the services of the Electoral Reform Services Ltd to undertake the ballot on his behalf.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Service Delivery seeking approval for the Business Improvement District proposal, to confirm conformity with relevant Council plans and policies and to authorise the conduct of a ballot of business ratepayers and associated decisions.

Shoes, Chair of the Business Improvement District addressed the Cabinet in support of the report and officer recommendations.

The proposal was for business-funded initiatives to increase footfall and customer spending in the town as well as attracting more businesses and jobs

Councillors Tutt and Holt declared a pecuniary interest in this item and withdrew from the room whilst the item was considered. Councillor Shuttleworth chaired the meeting for the duration of the item.

Resolved (Key decision):

(1) That the Business Improvement District (BID) Plan as set out at appendix 1 to the report be approved.

(2) To approve the BID ballot date and to authorise the Council’s Returning Officer (as ‘ballot holder’) to proceed with the ballot and require the Functional Lead for Growth and Prosperity to supply up to date rating list information to the ballot contractor.

(3) That the Chief Finance Officer be given delegated authority to:-

i. determine the statement of baseline services and baseline agreement annually.

ii. operate a BID revenue account and pass over monies to the BID company.

(4) To confirm that the expected costs of the ballot (c. £3,400) would be met by the Council.

(5) To agree that the initial ‘one off’ software costs required to collect the levy (c. £22,500) would be met by the Council.

(6) To agree that the Council would pay the estimated annual

BID levy cost (c. £5,600) for Council owned properties within the BID boundary.

(7) That the Director of Service Delivery be given delegated authority to:-

i. approve the operating agreement.

ii. vote in favour of the BID area in respect of the Council owned properties that fall within the BID area.

iii. administer, bill and collect the levies under the BID scheme.

iv. review the costs associated with the Council’s administration and collection of the BID levy at the end of year 1, should the ballot be successful.

(8) To note that the Council’s reasonable costs of collecting the levy and the associated financial management costs would be recoverable from the BID levy monies, as specified in paragraph 8.4 of the report.

(9) To note that the Council’s Returning Officer be permitted to delegate his responsibilities to others and that he has engaged the services of the Electoral Reform Services Ltd to undertake the ballot on his behalf.

Reason for decisions:

To approve the revised BID Plan and approve the BID ballot.