About the BID
BID stands for
‘Business Improvement
District’.
Businesses in Aberdare have voted to form a Business Improvement District to improve their town centre. Having a Business Improvement District puts Aberdare in good company.
There are now over 300 BIDs across the UK, working successfully to enhance commercial areas for their members.
Our programme pledges to deliver services above and beyond those currently provided by the borough council.
This ‘additionality’ is fundamental to the way in which the BID works and is ensured by a baseline agreement between Our Aberdare and Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council.
Our Pledges are to work towards improving:
We will keep the momentum going by growing our events, making them even bigger and better to attract more visitors and strengthen our community spirit.
Through targeted marketing and collaboration, we’ll continue highlighting the town’s unique charm, culture, and opportunities, ensuring Aberdare remains a destination of choice.
We’ll advocate for the business community, ensuring their needs are heard and providing the support they need to thrive.
We’ll build on the current planting scheme and work to expand the Christmas lights throughout Aberdare, creating a welcoming and festive environment for residents and visitors alike.
We’ll continue working with relevant authorities to enhance safety measures, ensuring Aberdare is a secure and enjoyable place for all.
#FAQ's
A BID is a business-led and funded partnership, where businesses within a defined area invest money together to make the improvements they identify for their trading environment. The money generated is targeted only at the Our Aberdare programme.
Our Aberdare is funded through a small business levy, which is calculated at the beginning of the BID term by using the rateable value of a business unit, and is initially set at 1.5% in Aberdare. All businesses within the BID boundary and with a rateable value of more than £5,000 contribute to the levy. Businesses with a total rateable value below this threshold will be exempt but can make a voluntary contribution.
To ensure that services will be additional to what is already delivered. Our Aberdare will have a baseline agreement with the borough council, which details the services they currently deliver. The baseline agreements will include public conveniences, street cleansing, highways maintenance, town centre management, car parks, CCTV and licensing including taxis, alcohol, street trading and late-night food. BID funds are ONLY for projects in addition to those delivered by the local councils and can only be spent to improve the area in which they are raised.
Yes, the council has a number of properties in the town centre and will be levy payers, as would other public bodies.
Our Aberdare is an independent, not-for-profit company. This will continue to be led by the private sector – by a voluntary board of directors who represent the businesses in Aberdare and by theme groups also drawn from local businesses, who will meet to oversee specific projects in the programme’s four main strands. There will be lots of opportunities for businesses to get involved.