On 17 May, the Brentwood Business Partnership (BBP) submitted a request to the council in accordance with Business Improvement District (England) Regulations 2004, to hold a ballot within Brentwood, Shenfield and Ingatestone to establish a Business Improvement District (BID) across the three centres. This report provides background information on BIDS, the priorities set out in the Brentwood Connected BID Business Plan and the role of local authorities in delivering BIDs. The report seeks approval to support the BID in relation to council properties in the area.

(Cllr Hirst declared an interest and left the Chamber). 

(Cllr White declared a non-pecuniary interest that he works for Network Rail who own infrastructure within the BID boundary). 

Cllr Kendall thanked the Economic Development team (officers Laurie Edmonds and Nishat Amin), and Shenfield traders Kaye Thurgood and Nish Patel for their work promoting the proposed BID as part of the Brentwood Business Partnership.

Cllr Aspinell MOVED and Cllr Kendall SECONDED the recommendations in the report. A vote was taken and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:

R1. Agree to vote in favour (i.e. Yes) in the Brentwood Connected BID Ballot in respect of the council properties within the BID area.

R2. Authorise the Director of Assets to cast the council’s votes in the Brentwood Connected BID Ballot in accordance with the decision taken in R1.

R3. Note that the council will be subject to payment of the levy on its properties within the BID area.

R4. Confirm that the BID Proposal does not conflict with any council policy or disproportionately burden any business or class of businesses.