They reminded councils that twelve million people are employed by small firms, that their taxes fund local authority activity and maintain vibrant high streets across the country.

To ensure that council candidates can manage local government in a way that will defend small employers and their employees in their area, the FSB has published a manifesto for the elections. This outlines how decisions at a local level impact on small businesses and the self-employed that nationally make up 58 per cent of the private sector workforce and produce fifty per cent of UK GDP.

Roger Culcheth, FSB Local Government Chairman, said: “Decisions taken by local authorities have a direct impact on everybody’s lives, including the livelihoods of small business owners and their employees.

“In some areas local authorities and businesses have a close and effective relationship but in others small employers are treated as silent taxpayers with little voice in the future of their community. This is precisely why the FSB does not support any move to re-localise the setting of business rates.

“Local branches of the FSB across the country will be engaging with their prospective councillors. Our manifesto will ensure candidates from all parties get the message that thriving small businesses are vital to successful local communities. Untapped small business potential can be unleashed for the benefit of all through excellent two-way interaction with councils.”

Manifesto
The Small Business Manifesto 2007 has eight key areas with the following recommendations:

• Finance - Greater promotion of small business rate relief and hardship relief, Local Authority Business Growth Initiative awards used to benefit business, the impact on small businesses of Local Authority trading and charges assessed


• Procurement - Commitment to the Small Business Friendly Concordat, less aggregation of public procurement contracts, more accountability on E-procurement


• Regulation - End to over-zealous enforcement, support for Enforcement Concordat


• Transport - Affordable town centre parking, reduced impact of road works, sufficient funding for the road network


• Business waste - Measures to prevent illegal waste dumping, a suitable waste infrastructure, clarification of WEEE rules


• Crime and Community Safety - Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs) must make tackling crime a priority, Crime and Disorder
Reduction Partnerships must address business crime, planning regulations must not penalise crime prevention measures

• Planning - Development Plans reflecting small business needs, faster planning application process, clearer planning guidance


• Consulting business - Genuine budget consultation in the business community, improved involvement opportunities, LSPs engaged with business

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Susie Hughes
The Editor © Hardhatter 2007