PARK ROYAL BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT (BID)

You may recall that a formal Ballot of businesses with a Rateable Value of £50,000 or more took place at the end of June 2011. This Ballot, conducted over the three London Boroughs that cover the Park Royal Area, result was found in favour of implementing a BID by the majority of those who voted in both number of businesses and rateable value. A copy of the BID Proposal, setting out the objectives of the BID can be accessed by clicking here.

Since this result was announced a number of key steps have been taken to implement the BID and are:
• Service Level and Operational Agreements with Local Authorities have been drafted ready for approval
• Park Royal BID Company Limited has been created
• An Interim Board has been appointed to oversee the election of Directors to the first BID Board.

• Agreed that PRP would provide secretariat services to the BID Company during formation

The legislation that enables the creation of a BID provides for an objection (Appeal) to be considered by the Secretary of State. Appeals are not uncommon and one in respect of the Park Royal BID was filed within the legislated timescale of 28 days following the Ballot result.

In the circumstances, the BID Interim Board decided that the Levy Demands and BID project activity should be suspended until the Appeal had been fully considered by the Secretary of State and his decision made known.

In the period up to December 2011 evidence was provided to the Secretary of State by the Objector(s), the Local Authorities (who managed the Ballot process) and the BID Proposer, PRP (who managed the BID project to Ballot).
 
It is now confirmed that the Ballot result is upheld in all three Local Authorities and the Appeal is formally dismissed. A copy of the decision letter from the Secretary of State is available at the end of this article.

The next steps will be for the BID Interim Board to agree timescales and criterion for the election of the first formal Directors of the BID Company, oversee the issue of the Levy Demands, consider commissioning of any project related activity and determine the formation of capacity to manage the BID Company.

It is of note that the Appeal process, while unequivocal in its conclusions, has highlighted issues that would benefit the management and administration of the BID Company and the activities it would seek to undertake. It is very likely that these matters will be considered carefully over the coming months and taken into account where appropriate and communicated to Levy Payers.

Should you require any further information in respect of the Park Royal BID please contact Brian Hinchley, Acting CEO for PRP ( bhinchley@parkroyal.org)who is currently administering the day to day affairs of the Park Royal Interim BID Company.”

 120106 - Park Royal Decision Letter.pdf