Issue - meetings

Report of the Leader of the Council

RESOLVED THAT:

1.       It be noted that the Cheltenham BID company has served notice of their intention to seek a renewal ballot to the Secretary of State and the Council;

2.       The draft Baseline Agreement at appendix 3 be approved, and authority be delegated to the Director of Planning, in consultation with the Leader, to complete the Baseline Agreement with the Cheltenham BID company;

3.       The draft Operating Agreement at appendix 4 be approved, and authority be delegated to the Head of Revenues and Benefits, in consultation with the Leader, to complete the Operating Agreement with the Cheltenham BID company;

4.       The District Council’s voting rights for the District premises in the renewal ballot be delegated to the Head of Property, in consultation with the Leader;

5.       It be noted that the Executive Director for Finance and Assets will, as Returning Officer, engage the services of a suitable consultancy that provides election services to carry out the renewal ballot on behalf of the Council in accordance with the BID Regulations;

6.       The draft BID Business Plan at appendix 5 be noted, and authority be delegated to the Director of Planning, in consultation with the Leader, to agree the final BID Business Plan with Cheltenham BID.

The Leader of the Council presented the report, noting that the Cheltenham Business Improvement District (BID) had been established in July 2016 with CBC acting as the billing authority. With the current term due to conclude in July 2021, the board of the Cheltenham BID decided it wished to proceed with a renewal ballot and notified both CBC and the Secretary of State of its intention to do so.

The renewal ballot sought approval for a further operating period of 4 years and 8 months, running from 1^st August 2021 to 31^st March 2026. A consultation period took place between January and February 2021 with all existing and proposed levy payers, before the Secretary of State was notified in February. The draft BID Business Plan would then be published in May before the ballot opened between 3^rd and 29^th June. On 2^nd July, the ballot result would be announced, before a 28 day challenge period which would expire on 29^th July. On 1^st August, the second term of the BID would become operational, provided it won a majority on the ballot and was not subject to any successful challenges.

The Cabinet Member Economy and Development added that it was exciting to see the value the BID brought to the growing town centre, and also to see encouraging feedback from local businesses. It was important to provide businesses with the support that they needed.

The Leader of the Council moved to a vote, where it was unanimously:

RESOLVED THAT:

1.       It be noted that the Cheltenham BID company has served notice of their intention to seek a renewal ballot to the Secretary of State and the Council;

2.       The draft Baseline Agreement at appendix 3 be approved, and authority be delegated to the Director of Planning, in consultation with the Leader, to complete the Baseline Agreement with the Cheltenham BID company;

3.       The draft Operating Agreement at appendix 4 be approved, and authority be delegated to the Head of Revenues and Benefits, in consultation with the Leader, to complete the Operating Agreement with the Cheltenham BID company;

4.       The District Council’s voting rights for the District premises in the renewal ballot be delegated to the Head of Property, in consultation with the Leader;

5.       It be noted that the Executive Director for Finance and Assets will, as Returning Officer, engage the services of a suitable consultancy that provides election services to carry out the renewal ballot on behalf of the Council in accordance with the BID Regulations;

6.       The draft BID Business Plan at appendix 5 be noted, and authority be delegated to the Director of Planning, in consultation with the Leader, to agree the final BID Business Plan with Cheltenham BID.