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NEWS EXTRA N We


NEWS EXT A TRA


“ eWe mean business” O


n August 23,birawas invited to Downing Street to discuss its pro


and high street agenda. bira


r epresentatives, CEO Alan Hawkins, national president Vin Vara and membership director and political advisor Bob Jarrett, met with bira’s political advisor Fiona Cuthbertson and a senior government specialist advisor and business liaison at Number 10, Jimmy McCloughlin, to ar gue bira’s own very specific agenda and campaign to get to the crux of today’s high street problems. The organisation is already very active in the parliamentary arena, having been represented on the earlier government-led Future High Street Forum in addition to the current Retail High Level Round Table, helping to influence both current and future trends of British


Ta


able, helping to i independent retailing.


Business rates, which are a huge independent


tax on the high street and very much exacerbated by the recent overdue revaluation, are a real problem despite the government attempting to resolve issues around the burden on small businesses.


The bira team made its strong point that although the government has raised the rates free amount to £12,000 with a taper run off £15,000, this is not high enough for the average high street retailer.


ff to


bira said it is calling for an allowance - not a clif


ff not a cliff edge - of this


amount, adding: “as always, you have to give government a solution not just a problem. It could be r evenue neutral and much simpler if the government scrapped all curr ent and often short-term r eliefs, while at the same time unclogging the cumbersome appeals system”.


bira CEO Alan Hawkins said he was thrilled that this particular meeting – which overran its allocated time slot at Number 10 – was very positive and it was not just a one-off.


The organisation was asked for more detailed cost outlines, especially around bringing the digital economy onto a new level playing field, where huge online retailers have a much lesser burden when it comes business rates.


to


Mr Hawkins said: “Of course, going for our biggest ask didn’t mean we didn’t use our time to mention other key areas, such as parking and access, planning and impact assessments of the high street, and of course government- led legislation on people costs like the living wage, auto enrolment pensions and training levies. All of this can have a positive effect, buts can have a positive eff it must be at a speed hard-pressed retailers can af V


ffect, bu The T


presented The Tool Shop’s case stud where our business rates revaluation has increased by 32% this April with an increase of £27,675 payable across our current nine units.


To


Viin Vara, who is also owner of e Tool Shop Group, added: “I sented TheTool Shop’s case study


ailers can afford.” To


ff


L-R: bira membership director and political advisor Bob Jarr ett, bira’s political advisor Fiona Cuthbertson, bira CEO Alan Hawkins, Va


and bira national president V in V Vara


“Over the last two years we have had to close two units, close our warehouse and reloc ate one to a smaller place. This was mainly down to rates and rent increases.”


The team from bira will be conducting research and have been invited back to Number 10 in November to pr esent their findings and policy outlines.


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