What is the Business Improvement District (BID) levy?
The BID levy is a charge payable in respect of non-domestic properties in the Business Improvement District area of Pontypridd town centre. The first BID Levy demand notice will cover the billing period April 2021 to the end of March 2022. An annual demand notice will be issued every March for the Period April to March until March 2025 when the final demand will cover the period April 2025 to the end of March 2026.
What is Your Pontypridd LTD?
Your Pontypridd Business Improvement District (BID) Ltd is a non-local authority body and a private company, responsible for providing and managing the Business Improvement District services for Pontypridd town centre. The company was established as a result of the outcome of a BID ballot process in February 2016 and was recently voted back in following a successful second ballot in February 2021.
Who do I contact with an enquiry about the BID?
If your enquiry is about payment or the amount you are charged then you should contact Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. However, if your enquiry is about the BID services or anything other than payment you should contact the Your Pontypridd Ltd via Email: info@yourpontypridd.co.uk or telephone: 07771 670212. Information is also available on the website at www.yourpontypridd.co.uk
What is the council’s role in the BID?
By law, the council is the billing authority for any business improvement district in its area which means it is responsible for the collection of BID levies. The Council is not responsible for providing the BID services because these are delivered by the non-local authority body, Your Pontypridd Ltd.
Who has to pay the BID levy?
The person or organisation liable to pay the non-domestic rates for the property is liable to pay the BID levy. Where a property is occupied, this will be the occupier, for empty properties the person or organisation entitled to occupy the property is liable to pay. This will normally be the leaseholder or the owner.
Do the council and other public sector bodies pay the BID levy?
Yes. The council and the other public bodies must pay the levy on properties within the BID area for which they are liable to pay non-domestic rates.
Can I opt out of the BID?
No. The BID is legally binding on the non-domestic ratepayers in the Business Improvement District area, following the successful ballot outcome.
How much is collected in BID levies?
Approximately £85,000 per year is collectable through the levy. Please visit the website for further information at www.yourpontypridd.co.uk
What happens to the money collected through the levy?
The funds collected through the levy can only be used to pay for BID services and a percentage of the Council’s costs in collecting the levy. The Council holds the funds before making payment to the BID Body (Your Pontypridd Ltd) for it to pay for the services that are provided by the Company.
What do I get for my money?
Your Pontypridd Ltd is responsible for providing the BID services. The Your Pontypridd BID will invest circa £387,000 received from local businesses between 2021 and 2026 on a comprehensive programme of improvements. In addition, the contributions from businesses will enable us to seek funding from other sources.
Your Pontypridd BID will be focusing on four main themes:
1. A Safer Pontypridd
- Free membership of the Business Crime Reduction Partnership and access to the Litorallis DISC app for BID levy payers
- Explore increasing CCTV coverage in blind spots.
- Promote the RadioNet system and look at additional radio schemes to help businesses report crime and suspicious activity.
- Invest in crime reduction products and schemes to protect staff, residents, and visitors.
- Develop a Best Bar None scheme to help improve management of the night-time economy.
- Lobby for more town centre police presence for the daytime and night-time economy to reduce anti-social behaviour.
- Promote a ‘Shop Safe’ message in all the retailers and services in the town.
2. A more Attractive and Accessible Pontypridd
- Work with the local authority to review visitor signage to help attract tourists and welcome visitors from outside the area.
- Develop a park and ride scheme from Sardis Road Car Park
- Creating Welcome to Pontypridd leaflets including maps showing key points of interest in the town centre.
- Working with agents/landlords and new businesses to reduce vacant properties and make their buildings more attractive.
- Fund Street Café Furniture Licenses for hospitality businesses to encourage a café culture in the town.
- Review car parking signage in the town centre with the Local Authority to make the town more accessible.
- Explore greening projects/options to make the BID area look more attractive to visitors
3. A better Promoted Pontypridd
- Introduce a ‘staff discount’ scheme and encourage workers to Shop Local and maximise spend in the BID area.
- Work with partners to deliver and promote a regular programme of events throughout the year.
- Discounted advertising for BID members on our Digital Advertising Screen
- Continue our Christmas Marketing Activities including the Prize Draw, Christmas Window Competition, and events in conjunction with partner organisations.
- Create engaging social media and video campaigns throughout the BID term to promote all sectors in the BID area and continue to change the perception of the town centre.
- Invest in radio and print ads at key times of the year to encourage more visits and spend in the town centre.
4. A Stronger Voice to support Pontypridd Businesses.
- Continue to be a collective voice and provide representation on all major developments in the town centre.
- Continue to voice concerns around anti-social behaviour, traffic arrangements, policing.
- Lobby Welsh Government to introduce a fair business rates scheme in a post-Covid 19 business environment which will reduce costs for all sectors in the BID area.
- Create a welcome package to attract new businesses to operate in the town centre and assist them with any help they need with access, grants, social media support and more.
- Work with local agencies to provide discounted online training for areas such as Health and Safety, Food Safety, Fire Safety, Business Skills and more.
- Continue to work with car park operators in the town centre to achieve reduced car parking rates for employees of BID businesses.
Further information about the services is available on the website at www.yourpontypridd.co.uk. You should contact Your Pontypridd Ltd if you have any further questions about the BID services.
Aren’t these services already provided by the council?
No the services provided under the BID must be additional services not already provided by the Council or enhancements to existing services.
Is there an increase in the BID levy each year?
There will be an annual inflationary increase of all levy charges year on year for the duration of the Business Improvement District.
The property is unoccupied do I still need to pay?
Yes. The ratepayer for an unoccupied property is also liable to pay a BID levy.
Can I pay by instalments?
No. The BID levy is payable in one payment.
If you have genuine financial difficulty and are unable to pay then you should contact the Council straight away on 01443 425002 Never ignore requests for payment as this will only make the situation worse.
I voted against the BID or wasn’t eligible to vote at the time of the ballot, do I still have to pay?
Yes the positive result of the BID ballot held on the 25th February 2021 is binding on all non domestic ratepayers in the BID area from the 1st April 2021 to the 31st March 2026. This includes persons or organisations who become rate payers after the date of the ballot.
Do I automatically become a member of the Your Pontypridd Ltd company?
No. Your Pontypridd’s Articles of Association require that levy-paying businesses in the BID area are required to apply for membership of the BID Company. Members of the company may vote at the company’s Annual General Meeting scheduled for early next year and get involved in the Board of Directors or join a theme group.
To become a member, please visit www.yourpontypridd.co.uk and fill in the company membership form. If you would like to join the Board or the theme groups, please e-mail info@yourpontypridd.co.uk.
How can I get involved?
There are a few ways that you can get involved:
- Join the Board of Directors and get involved in leading and overseeing the progress of the Your Pontypridd BID.
- If there are any projects, you feel you have the expertise to be involved with contact us on the details above.
- Retailers can sign up to the Business Crime Reduction Partnership for free and can attend monthly ‘Shopwatch’ meetings.
- Pubs, nightclubs, and licensed premises can sign up to the Business Crime Reduction for free and can attend monthly ‘Pubwatch’ meetings.
- Consultation will be taking place throughout the BID term with businesses, you can also contact us to meet BID staff if you have questions or need support.
To keep up to date on developments of Your Pontypridd, like the Your Pontypridd BID page on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter @YourPontypridd & Instagram @yourpontypridd we also send out a regular e-newsletter, if you would like to receive this please get in touch.
How can I pay my BID bill?
Online:
Pay online using a debit or credit card.
Have your 8 digit BID account reference number, beginning with a 7, to hand.
On line banking or BACS transfer;
Pay to: Rhondda Cynon Taf CBC
Sort Code: 20-68-92
Account No: 20639427
Please always quote your 8 digit BID account reference number, beginning with a 7, in every transaction.
By Post
Send cheques made payable to RCTCBC to Council Offices, Business Support Unit, Ty Elai, Dinas Isaf East Ind Est, Williamstown, Tonypandy, CF40 1NY. Please always quote your 8 digit BID account reference number, starting with a 7, on the reverse.
In Person
Use the electronic payment kiosk at the Council’s One 4 All Centres – details available on www.rctcbc.gov.uk/contactus - and remember to have your 8 digit BID account reference number, beginning with a 7, to hand.
By Telephone
To the customer contact centre, on 01443 425002, to pay by debit or credit card.
Contact Us
For queries regarding your bill, check the website www.rctcbc.gov.uk
e-mail to: revenues@rctcbc.gov.uk
Tel: 01443 425002
Letters to Council Offices, Oldway House, Porth Street, Porth CF39 9ST
For queries regarding BID services
e-mail: info@yourpontypridd.co.uk
Tel: 07771 670212