Sutton Council to Review Business Improvement District

5 November 2025

Sutton Council is set to review its Business Improvement District (BID) following concerns raised by councillors regarding the organisation's effectiveness and value for money. The review was prompted by questions about the BID's activities, including the perceived lack of decorations for major events in Sutton town centre.

Business Improvement Districts are defined areas where businesses invest collectively to improve their environment. The Sutton BID aims to promote and enhance the town centre for businesses, residents, and visitors.

During a council meeting on 3 November 2025, Councillor Wendy Clark questioned Councillor Jake Short, Chair of the Housing, Economy and Business Committee, about the need for increased scrutiny of the BID, particularly in light of the absence of decorations during significant town events. This prompted a broader discussion about the BID's overall performance.

Despite these concerns, Councillor Short highlighted the relatively low vacancy rate in Sutton High Street. As of June 2025, only 7.8% of retail, leisure, and hospitality premises in Sutton Town Centre were vacant, compared to an average of 9.5% across London and 10.4% in the rest of the country.

In addition to the BID review, the council meeting addressed other important issues. Councillor Short also announced that the Regulator of Social Housing has awarded Sutton Council a C1 rating, the highest possible, confirming the council's full compliance with housing consumer standards.

Further details on these discussions can be found in the Public Reports Pack and Agenda Supplement.

Councils Involved

Sutton

Meetings Involved

the Council of Sutton Council on 3 November 2025

People Involved

Eric Allen Local Conservatives Cheam

Martina Allen Chair: Cheam North and Worcester Park Local Committee Local Conservatives Worcester Park South

Steve Alvarez Local Conservatives St Helier West

Councillor Isabel Araujo Liberal Democrat Carshalton Central

Helen Bailey

Councillor Rob Beck Chair of the North Cheam, Stonecot and Worcester Park Local Committee Liberal Democrat Stonecot

Moira Butt Local Conservatives Carshalton South and Clockhouse

Councillor Richard Choi Liberal Democrat Sutton Central

Imran Choudhury

Wendy Clark Local Conservatives St Helier West

Councillor Richard Clifton Vice Chair of the Planning Committee Liberal Democrat Sutton South

Councillor Paul Cole Vice Chair of the People Committee, Vice Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board Liberal Democrat St Helier East

Tim Crowley Local Conservatives Carshalton South and Clockhouse

Councillor Sam Cumber Chair of the Sutton Local Committee Liberal Democrat Sutton North

Bobby Dean Liberal Democrat The Wrythe

Ruth Dombey Vice Chair: Sutton Local Committee Liberal Democrat Sutton North

Tom Drummond Leader of the Opposition Local Conservatives Worcester Park North

Mike Dwyer Local Conservatives North Cheam

Councillor Qasim Esak Chair of the Scrutiny Committee Liberal Democrat Sutton West and East Cheam

Councillor Trish Fivey Liberal Democrat Sutton South

Tim Foster Leader of the Sutton Independent Residents Group Sutton Independent Residents Beddington

Neil Garratt Local Conservatives Belmont

Peter Geiringer Local Conservatives Worcester Park South

Councillor Sunita Gordon Lead Member for Resources Liberal Democrat Wallington North

Catherine Gray Local Conservatives St Helier West

Jillian Green Sutton Independent Residents Beddington

David Hicks Local Conservatives Belmont

Marian James Chair: People Committee Liberal Democrat Wallington North

Councillor Andrew Jenner Chair of the Carshalton and Clockhouse Local Committee Liberal Democrat Carshalton Central

Councillor Edward Joyce Vice Chair of the Scrutiny Committee Liberal Democrat South Beddington and Roundshaw

Councillor Barry Lewis Leader of the Council Liberal Democrat Wallington North

Bryony Lindsay-Charlton Local Conservatives Sutton North

Patrick Magnus Local Conservatives South Beddington and Roundshaw

Councillor Sam Martin Deputy Leader of the Council, Vice Chair of the Beddington and Wallington Local Committee Liberal Democrat Wallington South

Councillor Nick Mattey Deputy Leader of the Labour Coop and Independent Group Labour Coop and Independent Beddington

Councillor Jayne McCoy Chair of the Planning Committee Liberal Democrat Wallington South

James McDermott-Hill Deputy Leader of the Opposition Local Conservatives North Cheam

Councillor Cryss Mennaceur Deputy Mayor, Chair of the Pension Committee Liberal Democrat Sutton Central

Councillor Gemma Munday Chair of the People Committee Liberal Democrat St Helier East

Param Nandha Vice Chair: North Cheam, Stonecot and Worcester Park Local Committee Local Conservatives North Cheam

Patrick Ogbonna Chair: Hackbridge, St Helier and the Wrythe Local Committee Liberal Democrat The Wrythe

Spencer Palmer

Councillor Ed Parsley Vice Chair of the Hosuing, Economy and Business Committee Liberal Democrat Sutton Central

Jane Pascoe Vice Chair: Sutton South, Cheam and Belmont Local Committee Local Conservatives Belmont

Jonathan Pearce Local Conservatives South Beddington and Roundshaw

Councillor Louise Phelan Chair of the Licensing Committee, Vice Chair of the Sutton Local Committee Liberal Democrat Sutton West and East Cheam

Joe Quick Local Conservatives Worcester Park North

Councillor Muhammad Sadiq Mayor Liberal Democrat Wallington South

Councillor Cumar Sahathevan Vice Chair of the North Cheam, Stonecot and Worcester Park Local Committee Liberal Democrat Stonecot

Tony Shields Chair: Sutton South, Cheam and Belmont Local Committee Local Conservatives Cheam

Councillor Jake Short Chair of the Hosuing, Economy and Business Committee Liberal Democrat Carshalton Central

Richard Simpson

Councillor Colin Stears Chair of the Hackbridge, St Helier and The Wrythe Local Committee Liberal Democrat The Wrythe

Luke Taylor Liberal Democrat Sutton West and East Cheam

Councillor Dave Tchil Leader of the Labour Coop and Independent Group Labour Coop and Independent Hackbridge

Vanessa Udall Local Conservatives Cheam

Sheldon Vestey Labour Hackbridge

Councillor Lisa Webster Vice Chair of the Carshalton and Clockhouse Local Committee Liberal Democrat Carshalton South and Clockhouse

Councillor Christopher Woolmer Chair of the Environment and Sustainable Transport Committee Liberal Democrat Sutton West and East Cheam

Topics

Sutton BID Chair of the Housing, Economy and Business Committee Councillor Wendy Clark Councillor Jake Short Houses in Multiple Occupation diversity Sutton Council Business Improvement District (BID)