BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS WORKING GROUP PAPER 04/14
DRAFT BID GUIDANCE DOCUMENT
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Introduction
We have followed the initial outline discussed at the last meeting and used the ODPM guidance document, although we have made changes where we thought it was required. All relevant information has been retained, although it has been put into a structure that is intended to make it more "user friendly". Information has also been added that BID Boards may find useful. Regarding the suggestion by Alf Strange that information is added outlining the benefits of BIDs this has been lightly covered and we will need to put some work into expanding this with a view to having a separate section. Comments on that and any other changes required would be welcomed. Finally the emphasis has been changed to make it more business friendly given the fact that the policy is to be business led, and (mainly) funded.
There are several issues in the document which will require discussion and agreement. These are listed below:
Discussion topics
Voting thresholds - what level should they be and should it be stated in legislation or kept flexible by allowing the BID board to set it?
Baseline provision of services - Should the legislation state what the appropriate levels of service are, if so how?
Local Authority Veto - Views on the criteria required for an LA to use its veto.
Initial support for BID - Should there be a minimum level of support in place before a BID can proceed? What would this be? Should this be outlined in legislation?
BID Boards - Asides from a company limited by guarantee are there any other options for BID boards?
Measuring progress - Is there similar information in Scotland to that outlined in the guidance document (page 28) that we can draw on to help BID projects measure progress, or identify what additional services would assist growth?
Additional funding - What additional funding streams are available that BID projects can access? European Funding? Lottery Funding?
BIDWG Secretariat
November 2004