Issue - items at meetings - City Centre BID Renewal

Report of the Acting Executive Director for Environment, Development & Housing (copy attached).

1)     That the Committee supports the renewal of the City Centre Business Improvement District (BID) for the period 1^st July 2016 to 30^th June 2021.

2)     The Council agrees the associated Renewal Operating Agreement

3)     That Council agrees to post a Notice of Ballot by 19^th February 2016 pursuant to the Business Improvement District (England) regulations 2004.

4)     That the Acting Executive Director for Environment, Development & Housing be authorised to take all steps necessary or incidental to the BID proposals before and after the ballot.

127.1    The Committee considered a report of the Acting Executive Director for Environment, Development & Housing in relation to City Centre BID Renewal. The report sought support for the renewal of the City Centre Business Improvement District (BID) in 2016.

127.2    In response to Councillor Sykes it was explained that recycling and waste removal were high on the agenda for local business, and there was work ongoing with both City Clean and local sustainable waste service providers. Work was being undertaken to deliver savings to the business community and as well as the potential buying power for the authority to start commercial waste collection services.

127.3    In response to Councillor Wealls it was explained that there was disappointment with the uptake and interest from businesses in the Hove area of the city; whilst it was acknowledged there was some issue with branding initially, it was considered that this was not the only barrier to increased interest from that business locality. It was also suggested that businesses further from the city entre were less likely to see the benefits; however, there was still ongoing work with the Hove Business Partnership and there was funding to allow them to make improvements.

127.4    In response to Councillor Mac Cafferty it was explained there would be work undertaken to help businesses to understand the justification and benefit of the retention of business rates locally; work such as use of grant funding for pop up shops or renting spaces in existing shops were examples of benefits to the business community.

127.5    The Chair then put the recommendations to the vote.

127.6    RESOLVED:

1)     That the Committee supports the renewal of the City Centre Business Improvement District (BID) for the period 1^st July 2016 to 30^th June 2021.

2)     The Council agrees the associated Renewal Operating Agreement

3)     That Council agrees to post a Notice of Ballot by 19^th February 2016 pursuant to the Business Improvement District (England) regulations 2004.

4)     That the Acting Executive Director for Environment, Development & Housing be authorised to take all steps necessary or incidental to the BID proposals before and after the ballot.