Clause 45 - Additional contributions and action
Local Government Bill
8:55 am
Mr Christopher Leslie (Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office; Shipley, Labour)
I am glad to say that we have managed to complete most of the speeches on clause 45 in a short time and I hope that that is a precedent for this morning's sitting.
Clause 45 allows voluntary financial and other contributions to the BIDs to be made. That will allow those who are not ratepayers subject to the BID levy to contribute to the success of the BID. As a result, local authorities, whether parish, district, county, borough or unitary, covering the area of the BID will be able to make contributions. The clause also allows any other person to make a voluntary financial contribution to a BID. That will allow, for example, property owners in a BID area to make financial contributions to it and those contributions may be written into the BID arrangements from inception.
The hon. Member for Cotswold (Mr. Clifton-Brown) asked who is required to pay. The only requirement on payment would be on ratepayers, as set out in the schemes. All others would be voluntary financial contributions, as clause 45 makes clear.
The hon. Member for New Forest, West (Mr. Swayne) asked whether, under subsection (2)(a), the billing authority will just hand over the levy or whether it has a power to make additional contributions. Subsection (1) is clear that persons specified may make financial contributions, which means that billing authorities—usually district councils—can have their own additional financial input into a BID scheme if they so choose.
I am glad that my hon. Friend the Member for Brighton, Pavilion (Mr. Lepper) drew attention to his crucial role in helping to guide the pilot BID projects to fruition. I know that he has taken a close interest in discussion of the clauses. I hope that his role will lead to a successful series of initial BID pilots that will in turn give other areas good cause to see that the scheme could benefit them.