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Thank you Howard.
There is a Neighbourhood Forum meeting at the Town Council this evening, with a theme called "Help in difficult times".
Like Andy says, I think the Government have either got their heads up in the sky or up their own back-sides.
Talking to local businesses every day I know what their biggest problem is - London-rated rents and business rates, which are mostly based on the rent.
They accept that they have to pay them (unless they also own the building, then it's just the rates of course), but they are simply too high and many businesses are struggling.
If business-rates were tied to their profits or turnover, that would help.
Only yesterday, I was talking to a small business owner and he was asking why his business is only receiving 27% small business rate reduction when he knows others are receiving 50% (the maximum).
He would like to move into the main shopping streets of Cannon Street or Biggin Street but the rates are far too high.
I made inquiries when I got back to the office in Worthington Street and the small business rate reduction is on a reducing slide and goes from a rates value of £6,000 with 50% reduction, down to £12,000 where it's nil.
My question would be, shouldn't it be the other way round ? nil (or nearly nil) at £6,000 and a sliding scale of reduction up to the maximum of £17,999.
I must be honest I was confused as to why they say the maximum small-business rate relief is £17,999, when the sliding scale, apparantly, only goes to £12,000 - I'll find that out today.
To my mind - and every one I have spoken to agrees, that Dover businesses are not trading at the level of business, that their business-rates would suggest.
I know it'll never happen, but new businesses should only have to pay 50% rates when they start up and have their business-rates increase by 10% a year until they reach 100%, this way they will have built up their business, so it can afford the rates and if it doesn't last that long, well, they tried.
It is always important when starting a new business to create a good business plan, but in most cases, the rent and rates will kill the idea - I know of people who want to start a business in Dover and have written a good business plan, but can't proceed because of the rent and rates.
Roger