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Campaign to end to the Council's ‘Pavement Tax’

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Alex Wilson, Oct 7, 2013.

  1. Alex Wilson Member

    Earlier this summer Greenwich Council introduced charges for any business which wishes to put goods or displays outside. Now Conservative Councillors are proposing that the Council withdraw the policy and refund any payments received.

    Greenwich Conservative Councillors will be putting forward the formal motion proposing the end of the ‘Pavement Tax’ (as the Street Trading Policy is known) at the Council meeting on the 30th October. I think there are three key reasons for requesting that the Council changes its mind and withdraws this policy:
    • Businesses are already struggling in the recession and this charge may make the difference between some shops staying in business or disappearing from our town centres, High Street and parades. The Federation of Small Businesses has estimated the Pavement Tax will cost each business between £500 and £1,000 each year – this is simply an unreasonable charge when shops need our support. Small independent shops will feel the impact of this charge the most.
    • The Pavement Tax is only supposed to bring in £20,000pa (see January’s Cabinet Agenda) but there are many better ways of raising these funds. It seems that revenue in excess of £20,000 from the Pavement Tax will actually be used to pay for enforcement of the Street Trading Policy. This is ridiculous and the Council should move the annual Mayor Making ceremony back to Woolwich, which I estimate would save around £20,000. Alternatively they could get rid of pensions for existing Councillors which cost this borough £100,000pa.
    • The way the Pavement Tax was introduced was an undemocratic farce. There was no consultation, the commitment to introduce the policy through a report was ignored and no Councillor has had a vote or say on this charge, this appears to have bypassed the normal democratic process.
    Conservative Councillors from across Greenwich are urging residents and businesses to lobby their Councillors and MPs to get rid of this policy. At the change.org website, there is a sample letter which can be sent to Councillors and a petition which can be signed. This is not a single party issue and recently deselected Labour Councillor for Peninsula Ward Mary Mills will be presenting the petition to the October Council meeting.

    Alternatively, shops may wish to display the poster below in their windows and produce their own petition to try and force the Council to withdraw this unreasonable charge.

    The Labour Party currently seem to be absorbed with fighting between themselves and I really want residents to pressure their elected Councillors to back our motion to end the Pavement Tax. There is no need for a charge – the policy itself is fine and will stop the few shops who take over the pavement with their goods. Businesses need our support and Conservative Councillors want to provide that.

    By Cllr Alex Wilson

    Pavement Tax Poster.png

    Attached Files:

    Mr H and Thomas Turrell like this.
  2. Mr H Member

    Just a heads up, the Greenwich Time had a small piece on the Council piece what people think of the Pavement Tax.

    I urge everyone to send them an e-mail (the e-mail address is at the end of the article) to demand that they remove it!

    Many thanks
  3. Mr H Member

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