Clause 56 - Duration of BID arrangements etc
Local Government Bill
2:45 pm
Mr Christopher Leslie (Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office; Shipley, Labour)
The clause allows BID arrangements to be in place for a period of time specified in the proposals, but not exceeding five years. The BID arrangements may be renewed for further periods, although, each individual period cannot exceed five years. That means that any successful BID can continue to work after the initial period decided in the BID arrangements. A ballot of ratepayers liable for the levy must approve the renewal of the BID arrangements. That ballot will be subject to the same rules as set out earlier. Approval for renewing the BID must be secured to the same dual-key mechanism that was used to secure the first vote. A time limit of five years means that a BID cannot charge ratepayers an additional levy indefinitely; it must be regularly approved by a vote if it is to extend beyond five years.