Issue - meetings

To consider the appointment of a director to the Board of Visit Staines (the Business Improvement District in Staines-upon-Thames).

The Committee resolved to appoint the Economic Development Manager as a director to the board of Visit Staines Ltd, the Business Improvement District in Staines-upon-Thames subject to a resolution to appoint by the Visit Staines Board.

The Committee considered a report from the Group Head – Place, Protection and Prosperity for the Council to appoint a director to the Staines Business Improvement District (BID) Board.

A new director needed to be appointed to the Staines BID following the Council’s Section 151 officer stepping down from the role. It was standard practice for local authorities to have involvement in local BID boards as it brought a number of benefits, such as strategic alignment between the BID’s initiatives and broader public policies, and fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors. The Council’s appointment would be subject to approval by the BID Board.

The Committee expressed interest in how the success of the BID Board was measured, and were advised that the BID produced an annual report as well as a five year plan and success could be measured against these. The Committee noted the Council’s Economic Development Manager attended the BID meetings regularly as an interested party, and by approving the recommendation, it would formalise their attendance at the meetings.

The Committee resolved to appoint the Economic Development Manager as a director to the board of Visit Staines Ltd, the Business Improvement District in Staines-upon-Thames subject to a resolution to appoint by the Visit Staines Board.