At its meeting on 3rd August, 2004, Cabinet received and adopted the recommendations of a report endorsing the draft Project and Business Plan for the Plymouth Business Improvement District (BID). The legislative framework for BIDs includes provision for local authorities to veto BID proposals where – (a) they conflict to any material extent with any corporate policy of the Council, or (b) have significantly disproportionate effect upon any person or class of persons. With Plymouth BID being effectively a partnership between the Council and the business/retail sector in the shape of the City Centre Company it is important that a degree of independence is maintained when the time comes for the Council, as a whole, to consider shether the power of veto is applicable and should be used in these circumstances. For reasons of openness and transparency it was considered proper that the matter should be referred to scrutiny and a proposal was therefore put forward that the ‘Business Improvement District proposals be reviewed with a view to making a recommendation to the City Council regarding the power of veto’.