Vibrant high streets, pledges to change business rates and policies for attracting visitors to the capital city were under the spotlight on Tuesday 14th April when FOR Cardiff, the Business Improvement District (BID) for Cardiff city centre, brought together a cross-sector group of Cardiff business leaders for a Cardiff member’s hustings event in advance of the Senedd elections on May 7th. Candidates from Plaid Cymru, Wales Green Party, Welsh Conservatives, Welsh Labour, Welsh Liberal Democrats took part in the panel discussion chaired by journalist Will Hayward, exploring key issues that impact Cardiff city centre and high streets across Wales.
During a lively discussion, Plaid Cymru’s Anna Brychan pledged to reform business rates to better support small local businesses to ensure that communities in Cardiff and across Wales thrive, while Green Party candidate Tessa Marshall pledged that if her party forms part of the next government, they replace business rates with a land value-based system, so that small businesses pay less while large contributions contribute more. The Conservative’s Calum Davies meanwhile said his party would scrap business rates for small firms, pubs and post offices and pilot business rate free periods for new retail business on Welsh high streets.
Reflecting on ensuring the future vibrancy and footfall in the city centre, Labour’s Huw Thomas stressed the transformative impact of the billion pound investment in the metro in Cardiff and the Valleys, which is enabling people to come into the city in a more sustainable way, and he also highlighted the party’s commitment to capping bus fares to £2 to help people travel for work and leisure during the cost of living crisis. Lib Dem candidate Rodney Berman highlighted their pledge of a £400m Town Centres Fund to make our high streets safer, cleaner and greener, which could be used to make the infrastructure in the city centre more attractive and welcoming. He added that he wants to see a prosperous city centre, deal with empty shops and ensure a more efficient transport system. Calum Davies meanwhile said his party would focus on tackling antisocial behaviour to attract people to the city, while encouraging businesses to adapt to higher footfall.
The panel agreed that Cardiff is an inclusive and welcoming place, but that more can be done to make it a premier visitor destination. Huw Thomas highlighted the new arena in Cardiff Bay and Welsh Labour’s manifesto promise to continue the programme of both major events, including hosting the
Tour de France in 2027 and the Euros in 2028, designed to bring people both locally and internationally into the capital city. He added that the new tourist tax will be vital to grow the visitor economy in Cardiff and invest in new events to put Wales on the international map. Anna Brychan said her party believes that the culture and sport offer should be the focus to draw people into the capital city and is committed to raising the budget in these areas, year on year, if they form the next government. Tessa Marshall highlighted their pledge for a new cultural act, part of which would see more venues for live music in the city centre to ensure a robust economy and more people engaging in civic life.
Looking to the future, Calum Davies told the business audience that it is currently too bureaucratic to get things built and that must change, while Rodney Berman wants the relationship with the EU re-examined to ensure future funding. Anna Brychan urged businesses to advocate more for the changes they need to see from the Government, especially in Cardiff, which she described as the powerhouse driving the Welsh economy. That was echoed by Huw Thomas, who emphasised the pivotal role of the capital city in the nation’s growth and economy. Tessa Marshall added that Cardiff requires a workforce that’s ready for the future, with good jobs and more affordable housing. She said her party would establish a community right to buy.
FOR Cardiff Executive Director Carolyn Brownell said, “acting as the leading voice for business in the city is an important strategic objective for FOR Cardiff. From issues like business rates and the visitor levy to transport funding and regeneration projects the challenges and opportunities facing Cardiff are also key political issues. FOR Cardiff will work on behalf of our members to ensure that the next Welsh Government delivers the best outcomes possible for the city of Cardiff and this event is a key part of that work.”
This event formed a key part of an important ongoing FOR Cardiff is hosting about the future of the city in advance of the ballot for a proposed third term of the BID that will take place in June.