Clause 47 - BID levy
Local Government Bill
8:55 am
Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold, Conservative)
We must have a brief discourse on clause 47 to try and tease out from the Government whether the scope of the BIDs is unlimited. In the Bill there is no limitation at all. Could the whole of a local authority's area become a BID in itself? It would be interesting if the Government would explain that. Is there any scope for limiting the amount of money that can be demanded from an individual non-domestic ratepayer under the BID levy, other than the fact that
if it became too outrageous people would not vote for it?
I would also like to ask about one or two other problems that may arising from the BIDs. What will happen to empty properties? I know that empty properties get a rate relief after three months, but in such cases who is entitled to vote? Presumably, it will be the superior landlord to whom the liability is passing.