Recommendation 58

Mr Weedon argued that BIDs do improve outcomes for businesses and that “the evidence is that they keep voting them back in”. 113 However, the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors said that their members involved in multiple BIDs found them to be inconsistent in effectiveness and Mr Dransfield suggested that “we are tinkering around the edges with BIDs”. 114 BID levies are a further cost for business owners, on top of business rates, a potential service charge and rent. 115 Furthermore, BIDs were criticised by Power to Change for the lack of community involvement, in contrast with Community Improvement Districts (discussed in more detail in paragraph 60), which are positioned specifically to represent the views of local community members. 116 Ultimately, businesses will be focused on their business needs. 117