On 30 June 2023, the results of the ‘Brentwood Connected’ Business Improvement District (BID) ballot were announced. Businesses in Brentwood, Shenfield and Ingatestone had voted in favour of the BID. The total turnout by eligible ratepayer for the election was 35%. The votes cast in favour were 140 (80%) and the total value of the hereditaments for the votes cast in favour was £9,273,250 (87%). The BID will start on 1 October 2023 and operate for five years until 30 September 2028. The council will become the BID Body and the Brentwood Business Partnership (BBP) will become the BID Advisory Group.

To ensure maximum impact from 1 October, a BID Manager will need to be recruited this summer and planning will need to start on autumn events and initiatives.

Members and officers thanked Kaye Thurgood, Nish Patel of Brentwood Business Partnership and also the Economic Development Team, Laurie Edmonds and Nish Amin for all their hard work and efforts around the BID being successful. 

Cllr Kendall MOVED an AMENDMENT to R1 and Cllr Lewis SECONDED the amendment and recommendations in the report:

R1. Delegate authority to the Strategic Directors, in consultation with the Chair of FAIR Committee and the Lead Spokesman of the Opposition for FAIR Committee, to sign a BID partnership agreement with the Brentwood Business Partnership.

Members voted UNANIMOUSLY and it was resolved to:

R1. Delegate authority to the Strategic Directors, in consultation with the Chair of FAIR Committee and the Lead Spokesman of the Opposition for FAIR Committee, to sign a BID partnership agreement with the Brentwood Business Partnership.

R2. Delegate authority to the Section 151 Officer to release advance funding for the BID of up to £50,000, subject to the production of a costed workplan and cashflow acceptable to the S151 Officer detailing the funding requirements.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

The council needs to enter into an agreement with the Brentwood Business Partnership (BBP) to set out clearly the roles and responsibilities of each party.

The agreement will include a baseline statement that outlines the services the council will continue to provide within its own budget, such as street cleansing, CCTV, fly tipping and grounds maintenance.

The council is the billing authority for the purposes of the Local Government Act 2003 and is responsible for collecting the Business Improvement District (BID) Levy and administering the BID Revenue Account.

BID levy invoices will be issued one month before the 1 October launch date.

The BID will be unable to commence activity until levy payments start to be made. Therefore, it is recommended that the council consider making an advance payment of up to £50,000 to fund setup and project planning costs.