Decision details

To consider whether the proposal document produced by Harrogate ABID Steering Group for the establishment of the Harrogate Accommodation Business Improvement District meets the requirements of the Business Improvement Districts (England) Regulations 2004, and whether the proposal should be subjected to a ballot.

i. Receipt of the Harrogate Accommodation BID (HABID) Business Plan and Proposal, submitted by the ABID Steering Group/Harrogate BID Ltd (the proposed BID Body), is noted.

ii. It is confirmed that the proposals do not conflict with any policy formally adopted by, and contained in a document published by, the Council.

iii. Authority is delegated to the relevant statutory officer to instruct the Ballot Holder (the Council’s Returning Officer or appointed provider) to hold an ABID ballot in accordance with the Business Improvement Districts (England) Regulations 2004, subject to the proposals meeting the legislative requirements.

iv. It is noted that, if the ABID is approved at ballot, North Yorkshire Council will act as Billing Authority and be responsible for levy invoicing and collection for eligible hereditaments within the ABID boundary, with the costs of collection recharged to the ABID Body under an Operating Agreement.

To allow Harrogate Accommodation Business Improvement District proposal to progress to the ballot on 17 February 2026.

Under the Business Improvement Districts (England) Regulations 2004 (BID Regulations 2004), once a valid BID proposal and notice are received, the Council is legally required to instruct the Ballot Holder to conduct a ballot. Therefore, the Council has no discretion to reject a compliant proposal. The only alternative option would be to identify a conflict with adopted Council policy or if the proposal creates an unjust financial burden on ratepayers. The Harrogate ABID proposal satisfies all statutory conditions and aligns with Council policy objectives. As such, proceeding to ballot is the recommended and appropriate course of action.