Decision details

Bilston Business Improvement District (BID)

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

To seek authority for the Council to cast its vote during the Bilston BID ballot and other procedural matters concerning the BID process.

Decisions:

The intention to make a key decision on the report ‘Bilston Business Improvement District (BID)’ at the meeting was not publicised in advance as required by the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.  The decision was urgent and could not be reasonably delayed for the following reason:

 

·       The ballot for the Bilston Business Improvement District (BID) had already been postponed once from September 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic and there was uncertainty whether the ballot would be further delayed, although it was now confirmed that all BID ballots affected should be completed by the end of March 2021. The timing of this confirmation did not allow for the required notice to be given and meant that the decisions could not be further delayed.

 

In light of the above, consent had been obtained for the key decision to be made at the meeting under the General Exception provisions.

 

Councillor Stephen Simkins presented the report seeking approval for the Council's supports to the continuation of the BID for Bilston. A BID was a business led initiative in a defined area, in this instance Bilston Town Centre, where businesses decide what additional improvements they want to deliver in their trading area.  Businesses in the area agree on the level of funding required to deliver the projects and services that are additional to those being provided by the local authority and to fund them through a levy.

 

Resolved:

1.    That the Council’s vote be exercised in support of the proposed BID Ballot in respect of the hereditaments in the Council’s ownership within the BID area and authority be delegated to the Director of Regeneration to complete and return the voting papers on behalf of the Council.

 

2.    That the Cabinet Member for City Economy be authorised to sit as the Council Board member on the BID Board, should the BID Ballot be successful for another five years.

 

3.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Economy, in consultation with the Director of Regeneration and the Director of Finance, to:

 

a.    formally approve the BID Business Plan and associated documents.

 

b.    Charge the BID company annual administration and software support charges for the collection of the BID levy which is estimated to be in the region of £1250. In addition, there would also be an implementation (one-off) cost of £5,000 in year one.   These costs are for the first year, with the option to review on an annual basis for the duration of the BID (five years) and to cover the Council’s costs associated with collection of the BID levy.

 

c.     Delegate authority to the Cabinet Member for City Economy, in consultation with Chief Legal Officer, to negotiate, agree and complete the necessary legal agreements required for the proposed BID renewal and any other agreements to give effect to the recommendations above.

 

4.    The Bilston Business Improvement District Business Plan and boundary be noted.

 

5.    That it be noted that formal notice for the Ballot had been received therefore the Returning Officer had been instructed to organise the BID ballot in accordance with the Business Improvement District Regulations (2004).

 

 

Report author: Simon Lucas

Publication date: 18/02/2021

Date of decision: 17/02/2021

Decided at meeting: 17/02/2021 - Cabinet

Effective from: 24/02/2021

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