11 April 2010
Jonathan Djanogly, the Conservative Candidate for the Huntingdon Constituency called for more support to be given to small retailers in Huntingdonshire.
Mr Djanogly said;
‘If we are going to have more independent shops in our markets towns then we are going to have to support local shop keepers.
Since Labour have been in power, average business rates have doubled and the new re-valued bills last month are claimed to be unfair as the use boom-time values. On top of this many shops have been badly hit by Labour’s regulations and taxes, all particularly destabilising at a time when we have the worst recession on record.
Mr Djanogly further added;
‘As tough as things have been, it is not all bad and many new shops have opened locally. At the same time local councils have responded with some great events aimed at attracting people to the town centres. The St Ives 900 Charter celebrations, which I attended last week along with thousands of others, is a great example of this.
‘But if we are to help smaller shop keepers and encourage the new retailers that we want to see, then government will have to do more to local councils and retailers pull themselves out of recession. That is why I am so supportive of Conservative proposals to;
- Make small business rate relief automatic.
- Give councils the power to offer local business discounts to attract desired shops.
- Allow councils to keep the proceeds of business rate growth from new development for six years. This will certainly promote growth in Huntingdonshire.
- Undo Labour’s changes to planning rules, which have weakened councils.
- Simplify and reduce building regulations with a focus on outcomes rather than box ticking.
- Cut corporation tax, abolish National Insurance for small start-up businesses and reverse Labours NIC job tax – which will hit retailers hard.