Issue - meetings

Further to their declarations of Pecuniary Interests, as outlined at item 43 above, Councillors Ric Metcalfe and Donald Nannestad left the meeting during the consideration of this item.

Councillor Neil Murray was appointed as temporary Chair for this item only.

Purpose of Report

To update the Executive on the Lincoln Business Improvement Group ballot and highlight the potential impacts of a ‘yes’ and ‘no’ vote for the city.

The report also sought views on how the nominated officer should vote in the ballot using the votes attributable to Council properties within the Business Improvement District designated area.

Decision

That the Chief Finance Officer be instructed to cast votes for City Council properties with a ‘yes’ to the Lincoln Business Improvement Group ballot.

Alternative Options Considered

The alternative would be to mandate officers to vote ‘no’ in the ballot. The implications relating to such a vote were set out in the report.

Reason for Decision

The Lincoln Business Improvement Group would be undertaking its fifth voting process from September to November 2019 for its operational period July 2020 to July 2025. A workshop for all members of the Council was held on 31 July 2019 where the full extent and remit of Business Improvement Group operations were discussed along with a vision for its future role within the levy area.

The Lincoln Business Group Business Plan for 2020-2025 was appended to the report. This set out priorities up to 2025 and specific actions for delivery during 2020-2021, together with the proposed annual budget and benefits of the Business Improvement Group.

The report set out the ballot process that would be followed, with the ballot itself being held on 6 November 2019.

The impacts of a ‘yes’ vote and a ‘no’ vote were set out in paragraphs 7 and 8 of the report respectively.