Purpose

To consider instructing the Returning Officer / Ballot Holder to hold a BID renewal ballot further to the notification from myMilton Keynes of their request to put a BID Proposal to ballot, and to confirm the Council’s position in respect of the continued operation of the Central Milton Keynes BID.

Decision

1. That the Council’s position in respect of the new CMK Business Improvement District (BID) is:

(a)        to support the Bid Proposal, attached at Annex A to the report, given it will deliver a range of benefits to Milton Keynes primarily by encouraging increased investment in the City Centre and through enhancing the Business Improvement District area for businesses and visitors; and

(b)       to vote ‘yes’ when the Council owned properties in the BID area are balloted.

1. That it be confirmed that the new Business Improvement District Proposal does not conflict to a material extent with the Council’s adopted, published policies, nor does it warrant the use of veto for any other reason under regulation 12 of the BID Regulations 2004 (England).
2. That by virtue of the Council not identifying a conflict, as set out in paragraph 1.2, the Returning Officer be instructed to hold a 28-day ballot on behalf of the Business Improvement District Proposer, with the final day of ballot being 22 October 2026.
3. That authority be delegated to the Director for Planning and Placemaking to make all decisions on behalf of the Council in connection with, and during the Business Improvement District Proposal statutory process, including agreement of the costs payable by the Business Improvement District company, entering into an Operating Agreement to confirm agreed arrangements and a Baseline Agreement for the Provision of Standard Services.