Croydon Council's Cabinet has delegated the decision on the renewal of the Croydon Business Improvement District (BID) to officers, a move that will see the Corporate Director of Place assess the BID's proposal for its 2027-2032 renewal. The decision was made at a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, 29 July 2026.
The delegation empowers the Corporate Director of Place, in consultation with the Executive Mayor and the Cabinet Member for Planning and Regulatory Services, to evaluate the proposal's compliance with the Business Improvement Districts (England) Regulations 2004. This includes considering any conflicts with council policy and determining whether the Council should support the proposal and vote on its behalf in the upcoming ballot.
The Croydon BID, which plays a role in business confidence, place activation, and safety partnerships, is seeking to renew its term for 2027-2032. The renewal proposal aims to provide additional services beyond those already offered by the Council, funded by a BID levy. These enhancements include enhanced town centre safety and security through strengthened ranger provision, improved cleansing and environmental maintenance to elevate the perception of the town centre, and the delivery of events, festivals, and marketing activity to sustain footfall and support businesses during regeneration disruption. Specific initiatives like 'Check Out Croydon' and the 'Stand Tall' programme are also part of the proposal to drive footfall and improve the town centre's image.
The proposed BID levy multiplier represents an increase from 1.0% to 1.3%, applied to hereditaments within the BID area with a rateable value of £40,000 or above. Liability for the levy will continue annually from 1 April, with only nil-rated properties exempt. The financial model also anticipates an annual inflation-linked uplift from Year 2 onwards, tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
The Council's responsibility for conducting the BID ballot has also been noted, with provisions for the recovery of ballot costs from the BID proposer if the ballot is unsuccessful. The estimated cost for conducting the ballot, managed by the Electoral Services team, is £5,500, including staff costs. Should the ballot result in a 'yes' vote, the Corporate Director of Place is authorised to finalise the terms of an operating agreement with the BID body.
Key performance indicators for the Corporate Director of Place's assessment will include the BID proposal and supporting documentation, such as consultation outcomes, financial management arrangements, and the proposed business plan. The assessment will ensure compliance with the Business Improvement Districts (England) Regulations 2004 and verify that the proposal does not conflict with any formally adopted Council policy. The Corporate Director of Place will also decide whether the Council should support the proposal and vote on its behalf.
The Council may withhold support if the BID proposal conflicts with any formally adopted and published Council policy. The Corporate Director of Place holds the power to exercise a veto under Regulation 12 of the Business Improvement Districts (England) Regulations 2004 if the BID arrangements materially conflict with Council policy or impose a disproportionately significant financial burden on any person or class of persons due to manipulation of the BID boundary or levy structure.
The current Croydon BID term (2022-2027) has focused on strengthening financial resilience, stimulating economic activity through major events and marketing campaigns, and providing enhanced safety and environmental services. Challenges encountered during this term include structural economic changes, a reducing levy base, and rising costs due to regeneration, reduced footfall, changing consumer behaviour, economic uncertainty, inflation, and increased labour and service costs.
The proposed timeline for the BID renewal process is as follows: Publication Notice of Ballot on 4th September 2026, dispatch of postal ballots on 16th September 2026, ballot date on 21st October 2026, ballot result announcement on 22nd October 2026, and the formal start of BID term 5 on 1st April 2027. All relevant decisions and reports can be found in the Cabinet meeting documents, including the Decisions 29th Jul 2026 and the Public reports pack 29th Jul 2026.
