Prior to the release of the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement on December 5 and ahead of Small Business Saturday on December 7, Caroline Lucas, the Green MP for Brighton Pavilion, has asked the Government to do more to support small businesses.
The measures Lucas has proposed would benefit more than 2,600 businesses in Brighton and Hove by allowing them a discount on their business rates.
Currently, companies are entitled to small business rate relief if they use only one property and its rateable value is less than £12,000. In her letter to Treasury minister David Gauke, Lucas has called for this threshold to be increased to £15,000, which would benefit over 500 businesses in the local area.
Business properties with a rateable value of £6000 or less presently qualify for 100% rate relief. However this support is not guaranteed beyond March 31 2014 so Lucas is also calling for this support to continue beyond that date, potentially benefitting 2,109 businesses in Brighton and Hove.
Caroline said: “Brighton and Hove’s unique and vibrant small businesses are vital to the city’s economy. As well as forming part of community life, they provide valuable services and jobs. However the business owners I meet in Brighton Pavilion tell me that they are struggling with business rates, which represent their highest expense after rent and wages. Many of them don’t get much benefit from relief, because their rates are so high.”
“This Government says it is pro-small business, and some of the steps it has taken so far are welcome. But we need more businesses to benefit, and for longer.”
Small Business Saturday will take place on December 7 and on the day, at 12:15pm, Caroline will be opening hiSbe, a new ethical supermarket aimed at regular supermarket shoppers, on 20-21 York Place, London Road.