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The Executive Director Place would cast a
‘yes’ in the ballot in respect of the Council’s
20 hereditaments, with the Council therefore accepting liability to
pay the BID levy due for these.

Reasons for the decision

Place Committee on 14 March 2024 approved:
 
1.        
the undertaking of a Business
Improvement District (BID) Ballot in Kingston Town Centre, and
associated regulatory requirements required to enable the ballot
and subsequent delivery of the BID’s next five-year term
between 2025 to 2030. on behalf of the
Kingston First Business Improvement District, from 28 May to 27
June 2024 be approved;
 
2.        
the intention for the Council to vote
positively in the ballot on its own hereditaments in the BID area
that are subject to the BID levy, be agreed;
 
3.        
the intention for the Council to pay the
BID levy due on its own hereditaments for the next 5 years, be
agreed; and
 
4.        
authority be delegated to the Executive
Director Place, in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder,
to:
 
(i)         instruct
the Returning Officer to hold a ballot;
(ii)        finalise and authorise the Baseline Agreement;
(iii)       finalise and authorise the Operating Agreement;
and
(iv)       vote ‘yes’ in respect of the
hereditaments for which the Council has liability.
 
Benefits to the Community: Kingston Town
Centre is the Borough’s primary retail, social and business
hub and its vitality is critical to the Borough’s overall
economic health, for residents, businesses visitors and those that
study here. The continuation of the BID’s support for the
town centre will be a key factor in the future resilience and
prosperity of the town and the Borough.