Agenda item

To consider the report of the Director of City Development which provides an update on the progress being made towards the establishment of a Leeds City Centre Business Improvement District. This follows the completion of a detailed feasibility study in February 2014, the private sector supported by the Council has now embarked on the second phase of the programme which will conclude in a BID ballot in February 2015. 

(Report attached)

The Director of City Development submitted a report which provided an update on the progress being made towards the establishment of a Leeds City Centre Business Improvement District.

It was reported that a detailed feasibility study had been completed in February 2014. The Private Sector supported by the City Council had now embarked on the second phase of the programme which would conclude in a BID ballot in February 2015.

John Ebo, Head of City Centre Management, City Development, presented the report and responded to Members questions and queries.

Detailed discussion ensued on the contents of the report which included:

·  Background information and context to the BID

·  Late Night Levy

·  Formal Consultation

·  Partnership and Ambition

·  National Comparisons

·  Boundary and scope of a Potential City Centre BID

·  Small Businesses

·  Role of Leeds City Council

·  Night time Economy

·  The BID for Otley

Councillor Hussain asked if City Centre residents were required to pay the levy.

In responding Mr Ebo said residents would not pay the levy. BIDs levy only applied to businesses. Rateable values below an agreed threshold, which would be decided following formal consultation (potentially £60,000) would be exempt. This could include a large amount of small businesses. City Centre residents would be consulted and their views would be taken into account as part of the consultation process.

Councillor Dunn welcomed the initiative but expressed disappointment that Leeds appeared to be behind other cities when developing BIDS.

Councillor Buckley also welcomed the initiative and asked “do businesses looked upon this as a good thing”

In responding John Ebo said businesses did look upon the initiative as a good thing, the approval rate following the feasibility study was high. Commenting on the consultation process Mr Ebo suggested that the process did provide an indication of good value or not. Good value may lead to a successful ballot.

Referring to a successful BID and the provision of “extra services”, Councillor Selby asked if the extra services would be taken away from other areas of the city.

Mr Ebo, in providing clarification said additional income would be from the BID levy and would deliver the extra service, in addition to the Council’s own baseline service.

Referring to National comparisons, Councillor Flynn asked why Birmingham currently had 10 BIDS in existence.

Mr Ebo said that a large City such as Birmingham had a variety of distinct areas, with large pockets of rateable value. In providing an example for Leeds, Mr Ebo suggested that the waterfront area would be a good comparison.

Commenting on the Otley BID, Councillor Downes said that 78% of businesses had voted in favour of the BID. The initiative had worked well with businesses coming together on the back of the “Tour de France Grand Depart” to promote the area, enhance services and expand the local economy

RESOLVED –

(i)  To note the progress being made to develop a Leeds City Centre Business Improvement District (BID)

(ii)  To note the proposed timescales for implementation and the stages required in section 4 of the submitted report

(iii)  To await the completion of the work on the proposed approach of the BID, including the relationship to the night time economy, which would be reported to the Executive Board in September/ October 2014