The Big Heart of Merthyr Tydfil Business Improvement District: Next ...

MERTHYR TYDFIL COUNTY BOROUGH COUNCIL
Civic Centre, Castle Street, Merthyr Tydfil, CF47 8AN
Main Tel: 01685 725000
To: Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen
INFORMATION REPORT
www.merthyr.gov.uk
Date Written 23 rd August 2012
Report Author Rhian Prosser / Gavin Lewis
Service Area Physical Regeneration
Committee Date 12 th September 2012
The Big Heart of Merthyr Tydfil Business
Improvement District: Next Steps
PURPOSE OF THE REPORT:
To inform Cabinet on the next steps Town Centre Management has taken in
assisting the implementation of the Big Heart of Merthyr Tydfil Business
Improvement District.
1.0 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
1.1 At the Cabinet meeting on July 5 th it was announced that the Big Heart
of Merthyr Tydfil Business Improvement District (BID) had received a
Yes vote at the close of the ballot with a 65% positive outcome and a
63% turnout.
1.2 The Means consultants were procured to develop and assist the
business led steering group to ballot stage only. However the Means
agreed to meet with the steering group post ballot to discuss the next
steps of implementation.
1.3 The steering group will need assistance in developing into a company
which includes guidance on governance, legislation and systems. This
will include the BID company formation, membership (AGM), collection
of BID levy, MTCBC baseline agreements and accommodation. The
Means have provided a quote of approximately £5,000 to undertake
this initial pre start up phase. Quotes were also sought from an
additional three companies who had previously expressed an interest
in tendering for BID previously, however these three companies
declined to quote for the work.

2.0 Implementation of the BID
2.1 Cabinet has previously agreed to support the BID not only with levy
payments but also with staff time and the commitment on revenue
support from the town centre management revenue budget, which is to
be reviewed annually.
2.2 Town Centre Management is keen that there are no delays in
establishing the BID for an October 1 st start and that the enthusiasm
from local businesses is maintained. Therefore, officers have contacted
the steering group and provided them with the information they require
on appointing The Means to assist them in their development.
2.3 A meeting with the steering group took place in late July where other
financial details that were agreed pre ballot will be finalised. This
included MTCBC purchasing new software to collect levy payments in
advance and reimbursed on an annual basis from the BID company.
2.4 Update reports will be presented to Cabinet on progress of the BID.
3.0 FINANCIAL IMPLICATION(S)
3.1 There are no additional cost implications to the Authority, the report
highlights only how the budget already agreed will be allocated and
how initial outlays will be re-imbursed over the five year lifespan of the
BID.
3.2 MTCBC has purchased new software to assist the Businesses Rates
Department in the collection of the BID levy’s at an initial outlay of
£16,600 plus £3,500 per year maintenance for 5 years. This cost will
be collected via equal payments of £6,820 from the BID company over
a five year period.
4.0 COMMUNITY PLAN AND SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT
SUMMARY
4.1 The Community Plan & Sustainability Impact Assessment has been
completed and the proposals positively impact on most aspects of the
checklist. No negative impacts have been identified.

5.0 EQUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT
5.1 An Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) has been prepared for the
purpose of this report. A copy of the EqIA and a screening form are
available.
GARY THOMAS
DIRECTOR OF CUSTOMER SERVICES
BACKGROUND PAPERS
Title of Document(s) Document(s) Date Document Location
December 2010 Members Library
Merthyr Tydfil Business
Improvement District
Development Study
The Big Heart of Merthyr
Tydfil Business Plan
May 2012
www.thebigheart.net
Consultation has been undertaken with Executive Board in respect of
each proposal(s) and recommendation(s) set out in this report.