Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
16 October 2009
08:1430616I know that the businesses here are now getting forms from the VOA in Folkestone about what their business rates are going to be in 2010 and some of them just will not be able to pay this increase - they're struggling with the current rates, let alone an increase of over 50% and reducing the poundage to 43 (from 48.1) pence won't help that much.
Dover businesses just can't take these increases, but who can help them ?
I know one small business whose rates are going up by over 60% and they just are not going to be able to pay this increase.
The VOA just keep increasing and increasing them without any due consideration of the fact that we're in a recession, or the companies ability to pay.
They are of course working for the Government and despite all their rhetoric about helping small businesses, they aren't helping at all - in fact they are doing exactly the opposite.
If something isn't done, we (and many other Towns up and down the Country) are going to have a lot more holes in the High Street come next April.
Logic tells me they should be doing something about these increases - like NOT implementing them next year - they (the Government) will of course receive less money if there's less businesses operating, so it makes sense to reduce the poundage, but leave the valuations as they are.
Roger
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
16 October 2009
08:1730618ROGER
Not aware of the full reasoning for this but have to agree if you say it is like you have said
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
16 October 2009
09:1230620Roger,
Hasn't DDC received £400,000 from Gov, to help small business's get through the recession?
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
16 October 2009
09:1930623new one on me bout 400,000, tell us more.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
16 October 2009
10:1330629Gary C - they have received a pot of £300,000 from the Gov't; DDC have put in a further 100, so yes, there is a pot, a hardship pot; you can only claim it if you can show your profit has gone down over recent years - if you're a new business, you have no comparison to show.
There have only been two companies that have applied and both have been successful.
The cost of the rates is far above the trading level of most businesses in Dover.
Roger
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
16 October 2009
10:2830630Hold on a second lets make a few points clear here.
Overall the business rates are set to fall 5% in Dover District. That said, that is an overall percentage and some businesses will face significant increases and others reductions, it is not evenly spread.
Where there are large increases (or reductions) the increase is phased in and it does not just increase immediately to the full whack.
There is a fund of £400,000 available from DDC and any business that can show they are in difficulty due to the impact of the recession can apply for support. No business has been turned down though I know of one who's accountant has not done his bit to help the grant go through. Overall though DDC have done their best to make the application easy and the information needed can be supplied by any well run business.
If members of the Dover District Chamber of Commerce want help over this then they should contact the Chamber (01304 824955). If a business is not a member of the Chamber then perhaps you should join, its not expensive and dues can be paid monthly if needed, contact the same phone number. Incidentally, the Chamber is there to help and is looking to extend its operations in Dover Town Centre as soon as possible but there are some complex funding and location issues being discussed.
As far as the rating system itself is concerned, I would certainly agree it is wrong but it is beyond the powers of the Councils to change that. The rate is set by Government and the valuations set by the Valuation Office, a Government Department and are based on rentals, set every 5 years. The money gets collected by the Council and sent to the Government who send back to Dover a small proportion of what is collected here. This is, overall, a most undesirable situation, certainly for those of us who want local Government to be truly local.
As Chairman of the Chamber I will certainly be adding my voice to those wanting real localism with a change to the funding of local authorities and locally set business rates collected and spent locally.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
16 October 2009
12:3830638So the £400,000 has been used up solely for this purpose, and used in full???
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
16 October 2009
12:5330640No Keith, the bulk of the money is available, businesses have to make claims for this purpose. We have been informing our members about it and DDC have put out press releases as well.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
16 October 2009
15:4430656The businesses I have spoken to recently Barry, have all have significant increases, none have gone down, even when their rents have gone down, their rates have gone up - most unsatisfactory for the small businesses.
One of them has actually has a part of his rates doubled and this by a VOA that is in Durham !
Roger
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
16 October 2009
17:3230665We were clearly told the figures Roger, I realise you would not suggest that the valuation officer was lieing. It is natural that those who are hit worse will shout loudest and the winners stay quiet. The fact is the increase (and decreases) get phased in. That is not to say I want the increases but lets not distort the picture.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
16 October 2009
18:1830668the main problem for business is that they do not have a vote, so governments see them as an endless supply of income.
incidentally, i wonder how many small businesses have read the information thoroughly enough, to make an application?
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
16 October 2009
19:2530679Howard, the application is easy and there is help.
A business vote, now there is an interesting suggestion. Yes, why not.
That said, we need to have locally set, locally accountable, locally spent business rates to go with it.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
16 October 2009
19:3630685barry
it appears that a lot of local business do not read very much, they never respond when an event is bringing crowds of people into town.
16 October 2009
20:2130697Absolutely, Howard, he-who-must-be-obeyed-and-defender-of-the-forum!! Nice one, by the way, and well done.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
16 October 2009
20:3630701it is true though bern, you have mentioned before about getting a coffee after the christmas lights switch on.
same thing every year.
crowds of people that have to go through the town centre to get a bus train or to their car and everything is locked up or in the process of closing.
16 October 2009
22:1630723It really is poor, and unnecessary - the costs incurred in the extra opening time would be repaid in those festive and "special" times. You have to speculate to acccumulate - open a bit longer and suck up the extra costs until people know youare open and become customers!
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
17 October 2009
08:2130730That may or may not be true but it is for the individual business owner to judge, they know their cost base and perhaps they would prefer the time with their family.
17 October 2009
09:3530734True, we all have a life outside work, and sometimes I forget that. However, I need to put in many extra hours for my job, as I suspect you do too, and those few - very few - "special" and festive times in Dover could be worth a great deal, not only to the businesses, but to Dover itself as a promotional tool. Busninesses never thrive in isolation - the Dover businesses need our support, and I think should earn it by giving that extra time. it is for their own benefit too!
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
17 October 2009
10:0730735You might be right Bern but as I say this is a matter for the individual business owner to judge. They know their business and may well think the 60-70 hours a week that most small business owners work is enough. Their choice.
Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,698
17 October 2009
13:5730750Barry - true it is their choice, but they need to sometimes look at the bigger picture and consider the longer term consequences.
Oh of course they shouldn't complain when less and less people use Dover and more of their fellow traders shut up shop due to reduced customer numbers, because it is their choice not to open when custom is there.
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