Coronavirus Act 2020

Business improvement districts

79 Extension of BID arrangements: England

(1) This section applies to BID arrangements if—

(a) they are in force on the day on which this Act is passed, and

(b) the period specified in the arrangements as the period for which they are in force is due to end on a date (“the 2020 expiry date”) that is on or before 31 December 2020.

(2) But this section does not apply to BID arrangements (“current BID arrangements”) if—

(a) a ballot under section 49(1) of the Local Government Act 2003 (“the 2003 Act”) has taken place before the day on which this Act is passed, and—

(i) the business improvement district for the BID arrangements proposed in the ballot is the same or substantially the same as the business improvement district for which the current BID arrangements are in force, and

(ii) the date for the coming into force of the proposed BID arrangements is after the day on which this Act is passed, or

(b) a ballot under section 54(2) of the 2003 Act for the renewal of the current BID arrangements has taken place before the day on which this Act is passed.

(3) BID arrangements to which this section applies are to be read as if—

(a) the period specified in the arrangements as the period for which they are in force ended on 31 March 2021,

(b) the arrangements specified a chargeable period beginning on the day after the 2020 expiry date and ending on 31 March 2021 (“the 2021 chargeable period”),

(c) the arrangements provided for the amount of BID levy chargeable for the 2021 chargeable period—

(i) to be calculated in the same manner as for the last 2020 chargeable period, and

(ii) to be apportioned on a just and reasonable basis, where the 2021 chargeable period is not the same length as the last 2020 chargeable period, and

(d) the description of non-domestic ratepayers specified in the arrangements as liable for BID levy for the 2021 chargeable period were the same as that specified for the last 2020 chargeable period.

(4) “The last 2020 chargeable period” is the last chargeable period specified in the BID arrangements to end on or before the 2020 expiry date.

(5) The requirement in section 54(1) of the 2003 Act that the period for which BID arrangements have effect may not exceed 5 years does not apply to BID arrangements to which this section applies.

(6) Nothing in this section prevents the termination or alteration of BID arrangements in accordance with regulations under section 54(4) of the 2003 Act.

(7) Expressions used in this section and in Part 4 of the 2003 Act have the same meaning in this section as they have in that Part.

(8) This section binds the Crown.

(9) This section does not apply in relation to Wales.

80 Extension of BID arrangements: Northern Ireland

(1) This section applies to BID arrangements if—

(a) they are in force on the day on which this Act is passed, and

(b) the period specified in the arrangements as the period for which they are in force is due to end on a date (“the 2020 expiry date”) that is on or before 31 December 2020.

(2) BID arrangements to which this section applies are to be read as if—

(a) the period specified in the arrangements as the period for which they are in force ended on 31 March 2021,

(b) there were a chargeable period in relation to the arrangements beginning on the day after the 2020 expiry date and ending on 31 March 2021 (“the 2021 chargeable period”),

(c) the arrangements provided for the amount of BID levy chargeable for the 2021 chargeable period—

(i) to be calculated in the same manner as for the last 2020 chargeable period, and

(ii) to be apportioned on a just and reasonable basis, where the 2021 chargeable period is not the same length as the last 2020 chargeable period, and

(d) the description of eligible ratepayers liable for BID levy in relation to the arrangements for the 2021 chargeable period were the same as that for the last 2020 chargeable period.

(3) “The last 2020 chargeable period” is the last chargeable period in relation to the BID arrangements to end on or before the 2020 expiry date.

(4) The requirement in section 16(1) of the Business Improvement Districts Act (Northern Ireland) 2013 (c. 5 (N. I.)) (“the 2013 Act”) that the period for which BID arrangements have effect may not exceed 5 years does not apply to BID arrangements to which this section applies.

(5) Nothing in this section prevents the termination or alteration of BID arrangements in accordance with regulations under section 16(4) of the 2013 Act.

(6) Expressions used in this section and in the 2013 Act have the same meaning in this section as they have in that Act.

(7) This section binds the Crown.