§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what input will be expected from private landlords in the business improvement districts. [87972]
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§ Mr. McNultyClause 45 of the Local Government Bill, which was introduced into Parliament on 25 November, allows private landlords to make voluntary Financial contributions to the business improvement district in their local area.
As we set out in our White Paper Strong Local Leadership—Quality Public Services "Property Owners have a key role to play in BIDs. But there are significant practical difficulties in extending the levy to property owners, outside the rating system. This would, in effect, be a new tax on property ownership. The Office of the Deputy PrimeMinister therefore intends to build voluntary contributions, already substantial in many existing projects, into the model for BIDs in England. This would be done through the guidance rather than the legislation. This will encourage BID partnershipsto involve property owners from the start so that they can participate in the development and the implementation of BID proposals."