Cabinet received a report of the Executive Head of Strategy and Communications that outlined the proposals for the Watford Business Improvement District (BID) Ballot which was due to take place in February 2021.

Councillors Sharpe and Collett introduced the report.  It was noted how the BID had been integral to the town and had supported businesses throughout the pandemic.  It had been instrumental in supporting them as businesses opened after the first lockdown.  There would be a lot of work to be carried out to ensure an agreement for the BID could be reached.  Each business would be required to make an extra contribution towards the business rates.

The Managing Director informed Cabinet that the BID’s five-year term would end in March 2021.  It had proven to be successful.  The report set out information to ensure it met the relevant legislation.  The BID supported the council’s strategic plan and had a critical role in the road to renewal.  The BID’s plan demonstrated how it set out to support businesses to bounce back from the pandemic.

In response to a question from Councillor Bell about extending the BID area, Maria Manion, the BID’s Chief Executive, explained that the proposal was to retain the same area for the next five-year term.  This was due to the consultation required to be undertaken.  It would be very difficult to carry this out whilst most businesses were not open, for example Clarendon Road offices.  Within a year it would be possible to consider a new BID to incorporate other areas, including Market Street, Waterfields and Clarendon Road.  This would be a BID in its own right.  It would be necessary to carry out consultation in the area.  The new BID would be managed within existing resources.  It was essential to stabilise the town centre, the cultural sector and night-time economy.

RESOLVED –

1.      that the renewal of the Watford Business Improvement District (BID) be supported and agrees that the proposed Business Plan 2021-2026 (Appendix 3) meets the required regulatory requirements;

2.      that the Ballot Holder be instructed to formally manage the ballot process in accordance with the BID Regulations;

3.      that the Group Head of Place Shaping be authorised to vote ‘Yes’ in relation to the council’s votes as a National Non Domestic Rates (NNDR) levy payer in the BID ballot;

4.      that, subject to a ‘Yes’ vote at ballot, the council as the relevant local billing authority confirms it will manage the billing and collection of the BID levy and its transfer to the BID Company in accordance with the BID Regulations, and will recharge the BID Company for the collection costs of the levy, as estimated in Appendix 2; and

5.      that the Executive Head Strategy and Communications be authorised to ensure that the legal arrangements are appropriately formulated, the council will continue to hold a Service Level Agreement together with a data protection arrangement with the BID Company.