Clause 55 - Commencement of BID arrangements
Local Government Bill
2:45 pm
Mr Christopher Leslie (Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office; Shipley, Labour)
Under clause 55, when a BID proposal is approved by a ballot, the local billing authority must ensure that the BID arrangements come into force on the day specified in the BID proposals. The hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr. Davey) was right to point out that there will be an opportunity for transition between the proposals and the
arrangements. That is the point at which a veto can be exercised.
If a BID is vetoed, the BID arrangements cannot come into force unless the Secretary of State allows an appeal against the veto. In that case, the BID arrangements will come into force on the day determined by the Secretary of State. That day cannot be before the day specified in the BID proposals, and before determining which day it should be, the Secretary of State must consult the billing authority and representatives of the ratepayers. I appreciate the question asked by the hon. Member for Isle of Wight about whether the arrangements could come into force on the day after a ballot. That is an especially interesting point. I have made inquiries, and it appears that it is possible in theory, if unlikely. However, they could and do come into effect on the date specified in the proposals. I will re-examine the guidance, but it suggests that there should be a reasonable period of time between proposals, the date of the result of the ballot and the date when the arrangements come into force to ensure that all parties have sufficient opportunity to consider whether they need to exercise any powers under the provisions.
Question put and agreed to.
Clause 55 ordered to stand part of the Bill.