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Local Government Bill


Local Government Bill
Part 4 — Business improvement districts

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     (6)    For the purposes of subsections (4) and (5) the rateable value of a hereditament

is that shown on the day of the ballot under section 42(4) of the Local

Government Finance Act 1988 (c. 41).

 53    Power of veto

     (1)    This section applies where BID proposals are approved by a ballot held for the

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purposes of section 51(1).

     (2)    The billing authority to which the proposals relate may, in prescribed

circumstances, veto the proposals within such period from the date of the

ballot as may be prescribed.

     (3)    In deciding whether to exercise the veto, a billing authority is to have regard to

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such matters as may be prescribed.

     (4)    If a billing authority vetoes BID proposals, it must give notice of the exercise of

the veto to the persons entitled to vote in the ballot.

     (5)    The notice—

           (a)           must set out the reasons for the exercise of the veto, and

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           (b)           must give details of the right of appeal under section 54.

     (6)    A copy of the notice must be sent to the Secretary of State.

 54    Appeal against veto

     (1)    Where a billing authority vetoes BID proposals, any person who was entitled

to vote in the ballot may appeal to the Secretary of State.

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     (2)    The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision in relation to appeals

under this section, including provision—

           (a)           as to the time by which an appeal is to be made,

           (b)           as to the manner in which an appeal is to be made,

           (c)           as to the procedure to be followed in connection with an appeal, and

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           (d)           as to the matters to be taken into account in deciding whether to allow

an appeal.

 55    Commencement of BID arrangements

     (1)    This section applies where BID proposals are approved by a ballot held for the

purposes of section 51(1).

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     (2)    The billing authority concerned must ensure that BID arrangements which

give effect to the proposals are made by the time the arrangements are to come

into force in accordance with this section.

     (3)    Subject to subsection (4), the BID arrangements are to come into force on such

day as may be provided under the BID proposals.

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     (4)    If the BID proposals are vetoed under section 53, BID arrangements which give

effect to the proposals are not to come into force unless the Secretary of State

allows an appeal against the veto under section 54.

     (5)    Where the Secretary of State allows such an appeal, BID arrangements which

give effect to the proposals are to come into force on such day as the Secretary

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of State may determine.

 

 

Local Government Bill
Part 4 — Business improvement districts

    23

 

     (6)    The day determined under subsection (5) must not be earlier than the day

mentioned in subsection (3).

     (7)    Before making a determination under subsection (5), the Secretary of State

must consult—

           (a)           the billing authority concerned, and

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           (b)           such persons as appears to him to be representative of the non-

domestic ratepayers who are to be liable for the proposed BID levy.

Miscellaneous

 56    Duration of BID arrangements etc

     (1)    BID arrangements are to have effect for such period (not exceeding 5 years) as

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may be specified in the arrangements.

     (2)    BID arrangements may be renewed for one or more periods each of which

must not exceed 5 years, but only if the renewal of the arrangements on that or

each occasion is approved by a ballot of the non-domestic ratepayers in the

business improvement district who are liable for the BID levy.

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     (3)    The renewal of BID arrangements is not to be regarded as approved by a ballot

held for the purposes of subsection (2) unless the two conditions in section 52

which apply to the approval of BID proposals are satisfied in relation to the

renewal of the arrangements.

     (4)    The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision—

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           (a)           as to the alteration of BID arrangements, and

           (b)           as to the termination of BID arrangements.

     (5)    The provision which may be made by virtue of subsection (4)(a) or (b) includes

provision preventing or restricting the alteration or early termination of BID

arrangements.

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     (6)    Nothing in subsection (5) is to be taken as limiting the power conferred by

subsection (4).

 57    Regulations about ballots

     (1)    The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision in relation to ballots.

     (2)    The provision which may be made by regulations under this section includes

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provision—

           (a)           as to the timing of ballots;

           (b)           as to the non-domestic ratepayers entitled to vote in a ballot;

           (c)           as to the question to be asked in a ballot;

           (d)           as to the form that ballots may take;

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           (e)           as to the persons who are to hold ballots;

           (f)           as to the conduct of ballots;

           (g)           conferring power on the Secretary of State to declare ballots void in

cases of material irregularity;

           (h)           for or in connection with enabling a billing authority to recover the

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costs of a ballot from such persons and in such circumstances as may be

prescribed.

 

 

Local Government Bill
Part 4 — Business improvement districts

    24

 

     (3)    Nothing in subsection (2) is to be taken as limiting the power conferred by

subsection (1).

     (4)    In this section “ballot” means a ballot held for the purposes of section 51(1) or

56(2).

 58    Power to make further provision

5

     (1)    The Secretary of State may by regulations make such supplementary,

incidental, consequential or transitional provision as he considers necessary or

expedient for the purposes of, in consequence of, or for giving full effect to, any

provision made by or under this Part.

     (2)    The provision which may be made under subsection (1) includes provision

10

amending any enactment (whenever passed or made).

 59    Crown application

This Part binds the Crown.

 60    Wales

In its application to Wales—

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           (a)           this Part has effect as if for any reference to the Secretary of State there

were substituted a reference to the National Assembly for Wales, and

           (b)           section 45(2)(b) has effect as if for the reference to a county council or

parish council there were substituted a reference to a community

council.

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 61    Interpretation of Part 4

     (1)    In this Part—

                    “BID arrangements” and “BID levy” have the meaning given by section

43;

                    “billing authority” means—

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                  (a)                 in relation to England, a district council, unitary county council,

London borough council, the Common Council of the City of

London or the Council of the Isles of Scilly; and

                  (b)                 in relation to Wales, a county council or county borough

council;

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                    “business improvement district” has the meaning given by section 43;

                    “enactment” includes an enactment contained in a local or private Act or

comprised in subordinate legislation (within the meaning of the

Interpretation Act 1978 (c. 30));

                    “non-domestic ratepayer”, in relation to any area, means a person subject

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to a non-domestic rate under section 43 or 45 of the Local Government

Finance Act 1988 (c. 41) (liability to non-domestic rates) because he is

the owner or occupier of a hereditament situated in that area;

                    “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of

State;

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                    “unitary county council” means a county council that is the council for a

county in which there are no district councils.

 

 

Local Government Bill
Part 5 — Non-domestic rates

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     (2)    Other expressions which are used in this Part and in Part 3 of the Local

Government Finance Act 1988 (c. 41) (non-domestic rates) have the same

meaning in this Part as they have in that Part.

Part 5

Non-domestic rates

5

 62    Submission of proposed rating lists

     (1)    In section 41(5) of the 1988 Act (proposed local non-domestic rating list to be

sent to billing authority not later than 31 December preceding compilation

date) for “31 December” there is substituted “30 September”.

     (2)    In section 52(5) of that Act (proposed central non-domestic rating list to be sent

10

to Secretary of State not later than 31 December preceding compilation date)

for “31 December” there is substituted “30 September”.

 63    Small business relief

     (1)    Section 43 of the 1988 Act (occupied hereditaments: liability) is amended as

follows.

15

     (2)    In subsection (4) (which, subject to subsections (5) and (6A), shows how the

chargeable amount for a chargeable day is to be calculated) after “subsections”

there is inserted “(4A),”.

     (3)    After subsection (4) there is inserted—

           “(4A)              Where subsection (4B) below applies, the chargeable amount for a

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chargeable day shall be calculated—

                  (a)                  in relation to England, in accordance with the formula—equation: over[times[char[A],char[x],char[D]],times[char[C],char[x],char[E]]]

                  (b)                  in relation to Wales, in accordance with the formula—equation: over[times[char[A],char[x],char[B]],times[char[C],char[x],char[E]]]

           (4B)              This subsection applies—

                  (a)                 in relation to England, where—

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                        (i)                        the rateable value of the hereditament shown in the local

non-domestic rating list for the first day of the

chargeable financial year is not more than any amount

prescribed by the Secretary of State by order,

                        (ii)                       on the day concerned any conditions prescribed by the

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Secretary of State by order are satisfied, and

 

 

Local Government Bill
Part 5 — Non-domestic rates

    26

 

                        (iii)                      the ratepayer has made an application for the purposes

of this subsection to the billing authority concerned by

such date as may be prescribed by the Secretary of State

by order,

                  (b)                 in relation to Wales, where—

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                        (i)                        the rateable value of the hereditament shown in the local

non-domestic rating list for the first day of the

chargeable financial year is not more than any amount

prescribed by the National Assembly for Wales by

order, and

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                        (ii)                       on the day concerned any conditions prescribed by the

National Assembly for Wales by order are satisfied.

           (4C)              An application under subsection (4B)(a)(iii) above shall be made in

such form, and contain such information, as may be prescribed by the

Secretary of State by order.

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           (4D)              If the ratepayer—

                  (a)                 makes a statement in an application under sub-paragraph

(4B)(a)(iii) above which he knows to be false in a material

particular, or

                  (b)                 recklessly makes a statement in such an application which is

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false in a material particular,

                         he shall be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term

not exceeding 3 months or to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the

standard scale or to both.”

     (4)    For subsection (8A) there is substituted—

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           “(8A)              In relation to any hereditament in respect of which both subsections

(4A) and (6A) above (but not subsection (5) above) have effect on the

day concerned, the chargeable amount—

                  (a)                 in relation to England, shall be calculated in accordance with

subsection (6A) above,

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                  (b)                 in relation to Wales, shall be calculated in accordance with

whichever of subsections (4A) and (6A) above produces the

smaller amount.

           (8B)              In relation to any hereditament in respect of which—

                  (a)                 subsections (4A), (5) and (6A) above each have effect on the day

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concerned,

                  (b)                 subsections (4A) and (5) above both have effect on that day, or

                  (c)                 subsections (5) and (6A) above both have effect on that day,

                         the chargeable amount shall be calculated in accordance with

subsection (5) above.”

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     (5)    In section 44 of the 1988 Act (occupied hereditaments: supplementary) after

subsection (6) there is inserted—

           “(7)              Subject to subsection (8) below, D is the small business non-domestic

rating multiplier for the financial year.

           (8)              Where the billing authority is a special authority, D is the authority’s

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small business non-domestic rating multiplier for the financial year.

           (9)              E is such amount as may be prescribed—

 

 

Local Government Bill
Part 5 — Non-domestic rates

    27

 

                  (a)                 in relation to England, by the Secretary of State by order,

                  (b)                 in relation to Wales, by the National Assembly for Wales by

order.”

     (6)    In section 47 of the 1988 Act (discretionary relief), in subsection (1) after

“subsection (3) below,”, in the second place where it occurs, there is inserted

5

“or the small business condition and the second condition mentioned in

subsection (3) below,”.

     (7)    After subsection (3C) of that section there is inserted—

           “(3D)              The small business condition is—

                  (a)                 that the hereditament is situated in Wales, and

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                  (b)                 that on the chargeable day section 43(4B) above applies to the

hereditament.”

 64    Calculation of non-domestic rating multiplier

     (1)    Schedule 7 to the 1988 Act (non-domestic rating multipliers) is amended as

follows.

15

     (2)    In paragraph 1 (Part 1 of Schedule 7 has effect to determine non-domestic

rating multiplier) after “multiplier” there is inserted “and, in relation to

England, the small business non-domestic rating multiplier”.

     (3)    For paragraph 3 (calculation of non-domestic rating multiplier for years in

which no list compiled) there is substituted—

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        “3               (1)                In relation to England, the small business non-domestic rating

multiplier for a chargeable financial year shall be calculated in

accordance with this paragraph if the year is not one at the beginning

of which new lists must be compiled.

                       (2)                 An amount shall be found in accordance with the formula—equation: over[times[char[A],char[x],char[B]],char[C]]

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                       (3)                 Subject to sub-paragraph (5) below, that amount may be adjusted by

the Secretary of State to reflect the extent to which his last estimate of

the total mentioned in paragraph 5(6) or (7) below appears to him to

differ from the actual total.

                       (4)                The amount under sub-paragraph (2) above or, if an adjustment is

30

made under sub-paragraph (3) above, the adjusted amount shall be

the small business non-domestic rating multiplier for the year.

                       (5)                 No adjustment may be made under sub-paragraph (3) above for a

chargeable financial year beginning before 2006.

        3A               (1)                In relation to England, the non-domestic rating multiplier for a

35

chargeable financial year shall be calculated in accordance with this

paragraph if the year is not one at the beginning of which new lists

must be compiled.

                       (2)                The non-domestic rating multiplier for the year shall be the amount

found by—

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Local Government Bill
Part 5 — Non-domestic rates

    28

 

                    (a)                   increasing the small business non-domestic rating multiplier

for the year under paragraph 3 above to reflect the Secretary

of State’s estimate of the difference between—

                           (i)                          the aggregate amount which will be payable to him

and all billing authorities by way of non-domestic

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rates as regards the year, and

                           (ii)                         the aggregate amount which would be so payable if

section 43(4A) to (4D) above were omitted, and

                    (b)                   if the Secretary of State thinks fit, adjusting the amount found

under paragraph (a) above to reflect the extent (if any) to

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which his estimate of the difference mentioned in that

paragraph for an earlier financial year appears to him to

differ from the actual difference for that earlier year.

        3B               (1)                In relation to Wales, the non-domestic rating multiplier for a

chargeable financial year shall be calculated in accordance with this

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paragraph if the year is not one at the beginning of which new lists

must be compiled.

                       (2)                 An amount shall be found in accordance with the formula—equation: over[times[char[A],char[x],char[B]],char[C]]

                       (3)                 Subject to sub-paragraph (5) below, that amount may be adjusted by

the National Assembly for Wales to reflect the extent to which its last

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estimate of the total mentioned in paragraph 5(6) or (7) below

appears to it to differ from the actual total.

                       (4)                The amount under sub-paragraph (2) above or, if an adjustment is

made under sub-paragraph (3) above, the adjusted amount shall be

the non-domestic rating multiplier for the year.

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                       (5)                 No adjustment may be made under sub-paragraph (3) above for a

chargeable financial year beginning before 2006.”

     (4)    For paragraph 4 (calculation of non-domestic rating multiplier for year in

which list must be compiled) there is substituted—

        “4                In relation to England, the small business non-domestic rating

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multiplier for a chargeable financial year shall be calculated in

accordance with the following formula if the year is one at the

beginning of which new lists must be compiled—equation: over[times[char[A],char[x],char[B],char[x],char[D]],times[char[C],char[x],char[E]]]

        4A               (1)                In relation to England, the non-domestic rating multiplier for a

chargeable financial year shall be calculated in accordance with this

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paragraph if the year is one at the beginning of which new lists must

be compiled.

 

 

 
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