Please tell me it is not true.
I've just spoken to a businessman in Deal who claims that businesses are looking to between a 30% & 50% rise in Deal this year for Restaurants and Pubs..
I expressed my disbelief.
Anyone know what the figures are!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
i have no idea but suspect that any incoming goverment will look for easy money to cut the deficit without hurting most of the electorate.
the first year of a new adminstration always plays its nastiest tricks.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
Apparently in Dover District the rates will fall by 5% overall as an average. Within that some will gain and others will lose.
Be careful though - there are two elements to the business rates, the rateable values (based broadly on business rental values) and the rate poundage. The rateable values may increase but that is off-set by a reduction in the poundage. Some people may have misunderstood how this works. To get the rates bill you multiply one by the other.
By the way - these are not set locally but by Government agencies, the money is collected by council and paid to the Government who give back a small proportion to the Council.
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
that makes it an arse then,two tier system with local governent getting the dirty end of the stick,its a quango that needs to be choped.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
That's right Barry, but the rateable value is set by the VOA and that figure is just not realistic for the businesses, not those in Dover.
The VOA are incapable of making such allowances or even listening to arguments that their trading levels are low.
There is no flexibility and no one arguing for that flexibility - the Chamber should be fighting their cause, not agreeing with the VOA.
Many of the local businesses are NOT trading at the level their business rates would suggest.
I know of at least one business where their rates are going up by over 66% and that cannot be right. They have had no physical changes made to their businesses and so there's no justification for such an increase
There will be a lot of changes in the High Street soon and not for the better; at least with DBS there was some one there who cared and helped - now nothing.
Roger
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
Roger - the rating system needs to be totally changed. If the VOA are simply applying the national guidlines laid down by the law correctly then there is not much that can be done by a campaign locally. We have no evidence or reason to think that they have done their job correctly overall. Clearly there will be, as always, errors in individual cases and the Chamber will and does help appeal and support these and with some success I have to say.
A change in law is what is needed and that is where any campaign must be aimed at.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Thanks Barry - then lobbying by the FSB and the Chambers of Commerce, up and down the country, should be made.
There is no one ready or willing to take on the fight, but if Dover and many other (coastal) Towns are not to sink lower, then something must be done - urgently.
Roger
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
I agree Roger
