Issue - meetings

Report HPR2022/009

The Orpington First BID was launched in 2013 for a term of 5 years until 2018. Following a successful first term, its business community voted for a second term of 5 years which expired in March 2023. Businesses in the Orpington First BID area had now expressed a desire for another term of 5 years from 2023 to 2028 and the report sought authority for a renewal ballot.

It was confirmed that there were no substantial changes proposed to the Operating Agreement other than some changes to deal with unforeseen issues (which had arisen as some businesses had not been able to make their contributions due to the adverse impact of covid.) A Member asked whether Areli were members of the Orpington First BID – officers would check the current position.

Councillor William Huntington-Thresher attended the meeting as a ward member and advisor to the BID Board. He stated that the BID was making a positive difference in Orpington and urged the Committee and the Portfolio Holder to support the recommendations. He also commented that there was a concern that the fees paid to Liberata for administering the ballot were higher than for other BIDs and urged the Portfolio Holder to carry out some benchmarking and ensure that Orpington First was not paying more than it should. The Portfolio Holder responded that he would ensure that this was done.

RESOLVED that the Portfolio Holder be recommended to approve the recommendations in the report to -

(1) Note the headline BID levy rules and emerging key priorities of the Orpington First BID for its third term.

(2) Agree to delegate authority to the Director of Housing, Planning and Regeneration that upon -

·  being notified that the BID proposer wishes to put proposals for a Renewal BID to a ballot, to review the final version of the BID Renewal Proposal which is expected to be delivered to the Authority by 24^th April 2022, and

·  being satisfied that the BID Renewal Proposal has been submitted in accordance with Business Improvement Districts (England) Regulations 2004 (Regulations) and does not conflict with any of the Council’s priorities and plans, and that its geographic scope is within the boundaries of the London Boroughs scope is within the boundaries of the London Borough of Bromley, to instruct the Ballot Holder to hold the BID ballot in July 2022 in accordance with the regulations.

(3) Agree to delegate authority to the Director for Housing, Planning and Regeneration that upon review the final version of the BID Proposal to vote on behalf of the Council for eligible Council-occupied hereditaments which fall within the proposed BID area (these are listed in Table 1, paragraph 3.20 of the report).

(4) Note the potential for additional costs to the Council in the event of a no vote and that a further report setting out options will be submitted for members consideration in that event.