Issue - meetings

Lancaster Business Improvement District - Renewal Ballot and Draft Delivery Plan Proposal

 

 

Meeting: 02/12/2025 - Cabinet (Item 77)

77 Lancaster Business Improvement District - Renewal Ballot and Draft Delivery Plan Proposal pdf icon PDF 218 KB

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Peter Jackson)

 

Report of Chief Officer Sustainable Growth (report published 27.11.25)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Peter Jackson)

 

Cabinet received a report from the Chief Officer Sustainable Growth that provided context and information for the endorsement of proposals for a Lancaster Business Improvement District (BID) Renewal Ballot (5 February 2026) as required by the national BID statutory provisions. The report updated Members on the pre- and post- ballot issues, resource and other implications in relation to the city council’s role in the BID renewal process and as a BID levy payer.

 

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:

 

 

Option 1: Do nothing

Option 2: Endorse the Lancaster BID Renewal Proposals.

Option 3: Request material amendments to the draft Renewal Proposal for consideration/ endorsement at a future Cabinet meeting

Advantages

No advantages

Timely notice that the proposals are technically sound and likely compatible with BID Regulations and council policy.

 

Allows for minor/non[1]material technical amendments via scrutiny of final Renewal Proposals.

 

Enables Lancaster BID to continue pre-election canvassing and marketing with confidence.

Only appropriate if the proposals have to be vetoed due to conflict with council policy and

if extensive changes are required.

 

Allows revised proposals to come forward that are compatible with council policy and regulatory requirements.

Disadvantages

Creates uncertainty for Lancaster BID.

 

Hinders BID’s pre-ballot canvassing and marketing activities.

 

Delays the ballot process.

No disadvantages identified

Reputational implications for the council if proposals are not endorsed without good reason. Potential delays to BID’s pre-ballot canvassing and marketing activities

Risks

If there are issues with Renewal Proposal compliance at this stage, a ballot could be delayed, impacting BID’s canvassing and the council’s operational planning.

 

This Cabinet meeting is the last date proposals can formally be endorsed for a February ballot under statutory notifications.

No guarantee that the BID Renewal Ballot will be successful.

 

Ongoing consultation and officer scrutiny mitigate technical risks.

If there are issues with compatibility with the council’s policy framework, Lancaster BID must address them and prepare a compliant Final Renewal Proposal.

 

Risks are as in Option 1 regarding statutory deadlines.

 

The Lancaster BID proposals do not conflict with any published council polices and a successful BID will continue to actively support the council’s corporate objectives particularly in the areas of Economic Growth, Clean Green & Safe Places and Community Leadership. The work of Lancaster BID in canvassing opinion and consultation show a good level of support for the way the BID proposals have been shaped.

 

The amount of prior discussion between the BID proposer and the local authority before submitting the BID draft proposals to the authority has been sufficient and it is expected consultation will continue up to the submission of final proposals. The costs incurred and due in developing BID proposals, canvassing and balloting have been allowed for within the BID’s current budget.

 

There are no advantages in holding over on endorsement pending Final Proposals (Option 1) and officers consider there are no material alterations required (Option 3). The Preferred Option is  ...  view the full minutes text for item 77