Agenda item

Business Improvement Districts

It was moved by Councillor Penny Baker, seconded by Councillor Ian Auckland, that this Council:-

(a)       notes reports in The Sheffield Star on 17th June 2013 that Sheffield City Council is considering the introduction of a ‘hotel tax’;

(b)       believes a ‘hotel tax’ could ultimately damage Sheffield’s economy and result in a loss of jobs;

(c)        regrets that the current Administration have dreamt up yet another poorly-thought-through ‘anti-business’ proposal; and

(d)       calls on the Administration to immediately rule out the possibility of a ‘hotel tax’ and work with local businesses instead of against them.

Whereupon, it was moved by Councillor Pat Midgley, seconded by Councillor Neale Gibson, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by:-

1.         the deletion of all the words after the words ‘June 2013 that’ in paragraph (a) and their substitution by the words “Sheffield Council, with its partners, is investigating a number of methods such as creating Business Improvement Districts which are partnerships within which businesses agree to contribute funding towards events that boost their own businesses.”

2.         the deletion of paragraphs (b) to (d) and the addition of new paragraphs (b) to (f) as follows:-

(b)     notes that Business Improvement Districts operate successfully in other parts of the UK and are designed to enable local businesses to identify opportunities to benefit their business;

(c)     confirms that Sheffield is progressing its first Business Improvement District to improve flood defences in the Lower Don Valley right now, with the support of local businesses;

(d)     confirms that no new Business Improvement District would be created without a ballot of businesses within the district, therefore meaning that any decision to create a Business Improvement District would be that of local businesses, not the Council;

(e)     further confirms that should a Business Improvement District be created, decisions directing spending of any income generated would also be made by local businesses; and

(f)      confirms that Business Improvement Districts are a way of putting local businesses in control of funding which can be spent to improve their business and resolves to continue to work with the business community to support the creation of one, should this be the wish of local businesses.

On being put to the vote the amendment was carried.

The original Motion, as amended, was then put as a Substantive Motion in the following form and carried:-

RESOLVED:  That this Council:-

(a)         notes reports in The Sheffield Star on 17th June 2013 that Sheffield Council, with its partners, is investigating a number of methods such as creating Business Improvement Districts which are partnerships within which businesses agree to contribute funding towards events that boost their own businesses;

(b)         notes that Business Improvement Districts operate successfully in other parts of the UK and are designed to enable local businesses to identify opportunities to benefit their business;

(c)         confirms that Sheffield is progressing its first Business Improvement District to improve flood defences in the Lower Don Valley right now, with the support of local businesses;

(d)         confirms that no new Business Improvement District would be created without a ballot of businesses within the district, therefore meaning that any decision to create a Business Improvement District would be that of local businesses, not the Council;

(e)         further confirms that should a Business Improvement District be created, decisions directing spending of any income generated would also be made by local businesses; and

(f)          confirms that Business Improvement Districts are a way of putting local businesses in control of funding which can be spent to improve their business and resolves to continue to work with the business community to support the creation of one, should this be the wish of local businesses.