By Newport Now Business Improvement District manager Kevin Ward

BUSINESSES in Newport city centre have been receiving their BID Levy demands in recent days.

Any business in the Business Improvement District with a rateable value of more than £5,000 a year pays a levy of between one per cent and 1.2 per cent of its rateable value. This funds the BID’s activities and was agreed by eligible businesses via a ballot in 2014.

It’s important BID businesses get full value for their levy payments, and the BID has another series of events planned throughout the year all designed to increase city centre footfall.

We have also introduced a gift card that can only be spent in the city centre.

We pay for all BID members to be part of the Newport Business Against Crime partnership.

We offer shopfront improvement grants and ways in which businesses can save money on energy, telecoms and merchant fees.

The BID will also soon be introducing a scheme to help provide a solution to the growing number of beggars in the city centre.

For more information about how the BID spends the levy, visit our website newportnow.co.uk or contact our manager, Kevin Ward, by email – kevin@kevinwardmedia.com

* Don’t forget our Record Store Day Festival takes place on the night of Saturday, April 21. Organised by Diverse Vinyl on Charles Street and funded by the BID, the free music festival takes place at six venues. A total of 29 acts will be on stage at Le Pub, Slipping Jimmy’s, the Murenger, Newport Market Gallery, Tiny Rebel and McCann’s Rock n Ale Bar. Entry is free and audiences can move between venues to catch as many acts as possible.