Issue - meetings

To consider a report by Councillor Jason McLellan, Leader and Lead Member for Economic Growth and Tackling Deprivation (copy enclosed) on proposals for a second term for the Rhyl Business Improvement District (BID).

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)      note the contents of the BID Busines Plan (Appendix 1 to the report) and support the recommendation that there are no grounds on which to veto the proposals under the BID Wales (2005) Legislation (paragraphs 4.8 and 4.9 of the report referred);

(b)      authorise officers to complete any necessary legal agreements required for the operation of the BID Levy, ballot and service arrangements and any other necessary matters for the proposed BID;

(c)      confirm that DCC will exercise one of its votes in the BID ballot in support of the BID, and

(d)      confirms that it has read, understood and taken account of the Well-being Impact Assessment (Appendix II to the report) as part of its consideration.

Councillor Jason McLellan presented a report on proposals for a second 5-year term for Rhyl Business Improvement District (BID) and associated arrangements.

The Corporate Director: Economy and Environment introduced the report which detailed the background to the establishment of the Rhyl BID in November 2018 together with the BID development process and legalities in that regard.  The first 5-year term was coming to an end and a new ballot was required if the BID was to continue.  The Corporate Director: Economy and Environment was a Director of the Rhyl BID representing the Council.  Cabinet was asked to consider the following –

·       whether it agreed with officer recommendation that there were no grounds to veto the BID proposal.  The Council could veto a BID proposal if it conflicted with any corporate DCC policy or placed a significantly disproportionate financial burden on any person or class of persons.  Having reviewed the new Business Plan (attached to the report) officers considered neither provision applied, and

·       how the Council (DCC) should use its votes in the ballot.  The Council owned a number of properties in the Rhyl BID area and was eligible to use 20 votes.  The Corporate Director’s view was that BIDs could be a positive force for good and a second term would be beneficial to the ongoing regeneration of the town.  The Business Plan supported the Prosperous Denbighshire theme in the Corporate Plan and the Welsh Government’s view was supportive of the BID.  Therefore, he hoped that the Rhyl BID continued beyond the ballot for a second term and that the business community would be supportive of the continuation of the BID.

The Leader thanked the Corporate Director for the support he had provided throughout the process.  He also thanked Nadeem Ahmed, Chair of Rhyl BID and Abigail Pilling, Manager of Rhyl BID, who he had recently met with Councillor Barry Mellor, and for their attendance at Partnership Scrutiny Committee and he appreciated the work of the Committee and its Chair in scrutinising the proposals.

The Leader advised that a BID gave businesses the power to decide improvements they wanted to make in a geographical area and raise funds to deliver them.  It was a very local form of democracy.  Although DCC was a key stakeholder in the Rhyl BID it was independent of the Council.  However, the BID had struggled to be perceived as independent given comments that it had only succeeded due to DCC having an unjust proportion of the votes.  He believed the BID had the support of businesses, but it was difficult to argue against the negative narrative due to the low turnout.  99 of the 463 eligible votes were cast; the “Yes” vote won by 66 votes but 36 of those “Yes” votes had been cast by DCC. Various reasons could be attributed to the low turnout, but a larger turnout was expected in a re-ballot and that more business would be supportive given what had been delivered over the 5-year term.

The Leader agreed with officers that there were no grounds to veto the BID proposals and he asked Cabinet to carefully consider how to use DCC’s votes in a re-ballot.  He referred to consultations with scrutiny and others, including the recommendation of Rhyl Member Area Group (MAG) that DCC do not exercise its right to vote in the next BID round.  The Leader’s view was that Rhyl BID played a significant role in the town’s regeneration, having delivered some positive initiatives in the first term, and Cabinet should be clear that it supported the BID and wanted to continue working in partnership for the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5