BID bodies collaborate with government on sector review
Since August this year, The BID Foundation and Institute of Place Management has been pleased to work closely with ATCM and British BIDs in discussion with government on some of the key issues facing the BID sector at present.
This work commenced after discussion in the House of Lords of a potential review of the BID Sector and we welcome a significant increase in engagement with the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) and their senior civil servants.
Jointly-authored paper
We support this further review and in order to aid the discussion, a jointly authored paper was presented to DLUHC by the three membership bodies, which outlines some of those key practical and regulation issues which BID leaders will be familiar with from their day-to-day experience. This includes aspects like ballots, billing, and relationships with local authorities.
While all parties have previously accepted the difficult nature of delivering primary legislation at this time, we are resolved to continuing to collaborate to ensure that we progress a number of key objectives. These include celebrating the work of BIDs and ensuring that they are held within relevant Ministerial portfolios, and exploring areas like ballot reforms and the adoption of Industry Standards.
BID influence
Our thanks go to the large numbers of BIDs that have directly contributed their voices to this work via a range of meetings and roundtables in 2023 and the many who have also hosted officials and demonstrated their own work in local BID areas.
TBF and IPM is particularly pleased to be actively collaborating with both British BIDs and ATCM, alongside other work such as representing the sector at future trade shows and continuing work through the High Streets Task Force.
The government’s recent acknowledgement of BIDs are a desired and potential outcome through its Long-Term Plan for Towns is significant and a continuation of placing BIDs in place policy ‘as standard’.
We look forward to updating all members on this work in due course.