Decision details

Following receipt of an update on the CBbid project and a review of the Business Plan, to decide whether to support the introduction of a Business Improvement District in Cambridge through the ballot which will be held in October 2012. To confirm the mechanism through which the Council will exercise its vote. 

Matter for Decision: Proposal for the introduction of a Business Improvement District (BID) in Cambridge and the opportunities for increased investment in the management of the City Centre.

 

 Decision of the Executive Councillor:

 

The Executive Councillor resolved to:

 

        i.            Arrange a Special Meeting of the Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Committee in September to discuss key issues relating to the BID project.

      ii.            Support the Council’s continued engagement in this project, pending a full report and recommendations coming to Committee.

 

Reasons for the Decision: As set out in the officer’s report

 

Any alternative options considered and rejected: As set out in the officer’s report

 

Scrutiny Considerations

 

The committee received a report from the Head of Tourism and City Centre Management and the CBbid Development Manager.

 

The committee made the following comments on the report:

 

        i.            Expressed concern that the map of the proposed BID area included open spaces and the River Cam.

      ii.            Clarity was needed on the voting mechanism.

    iii.            Expressed concern that this was the first time that the committee had had an opportunity to scrutinise this project.

   iv.            Noted that, whilst the historic City Centre was important, its success should not be at the expense of other areas of the City.

 

In response to member’s questions the Head of Tourism and City Centre Management and the CBbid Development Manager confirmed the following:

 

        i.            The BID had no judicial powers.

      ii.            It was felt appropriate to include open spaces and the river in the BID area, as they were important parts of the city. However these concerns would be taken back to the Task Group for further discussion.

    iii.            The BID area had only been defined in May 2012 and this was therefore the first opportunity to bring the detail to the committee’s attention.

   iv.            The BID area had been based on feedback from retailers across the whole area, including Mill Road.

     v.            The voting system was fully explained in the 2004 guidance.

   vi.            The City Council had 13 votes, the University had 13 votes and the colleges had 19 votes.

 vii.            The main BID area would fund the overhead costs of any ‘satellite’ bid.

viii.            Experience in other areas has shown that large retailers were in favour of the main BID supporting any ‘satellite’ bid.

   ix.            In order to challenge or extend a ‘satellite’ BID area a re-ballot of the whole area would have to be taken.

     x.            Very few retailers in Mill Road had expressed an interest in the BID as they said that they did not see the benefit for their businesses.

 

The Executive Councillor agreed to arrange a Special Meeting of the Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Committee in September to discuss key issues relating to the BID project.

 

The Scrutiny Committee considered and approved the amended recommendations by 4 votes to 0.

 

The Executive Councillor approved the amended recommendations.