The Government has promised to amend its Business Improvement District (BID) guidance to local councils to encourage areas with the scheme to be exempt from introducing a late-night levy.
The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) said it would ensure local authorities “carefully consider exempting from the late night levy, any eligible business improvement districts that are already funding night time economy measures”.
The pledge was announced in DCLG’s review of BIDs, which was undertaken during spring and summer 2014 and published this weekend.
The department also said it would encourage local authorities to involve BID contribution at planning committees.
The British Beer & Pub Association welcomed the announcements.
Chief executive Brigid Simmonds said: “It is great to see the Government do more to recognise that voluntary local partnerships like BIDs really do work.
“While I don’t think that a new tax on local businesses, through the late-night levy, is the way forward for any town centre, this is a positive step to help ensure local businesses don’t pay twice. I hope local authorities take note of any new guidance.”
Islington City Council and City of London Corporation both grant a 30% reduction in the late-night levy for premises operating in a best practice scheme, while all BID members in Nottingham have been exempt from paying the extra fee.
