Government to back BIDs
BUSINESS Improvement Districts will receive the Government’s backing as part of its ‘localism’ agenda, a Tory Party Conference fringe meeting heard.
Local Government Minister Bob Neill said that the business-led groups fitted in with the new coalition’s pledge to reduce red tape.
A BID is defined as a precise geographical area within which businesses invest collectively in local improvements and additional services. These are financed through extra levies made to the council by occupants based on their standard business rates.
Mr Neill told delegates: “They have a part to play in the mix of a region. We are committed to getting rid of bureaucracy, that’s why we are looking at things like quangos.
“BIDs have a definite dynamic, localist identity and the localism agenda has to be encouraging dynamism and entrepreneurship with proper collaboration between local authorities and their business communities.
“We’re giving local authorities incentives to build new homes and develop new businesses. I am happy to come along and support the BID concept.”
Around 40 delegates attended the conference fringe event in Birmingham’s Mailbox which was considering the question “What role can BIDS plan in preparing for the upturn?”.
Get ahead of the game by sponsoring one of our leading supplements. To find out more, call Phil Birkhead on 0113 394 4327 or email phil.birkhead@TheBusinessDesk.com
