Cuts to red tape and jargon will help small business, say councils

Council leaders today vowed to cut bureaucracy, jargon and red tape so that small businesses can get even more help from local councils during the credit crunch.
 
In a new report by the Local Government Association and the British Chambers of Commerce, small business and council leaders will today put forward a five point plan to help small firms during the recession. Business leaders and town hall bosses say that cutting bureaucracy, jargon and red tape will make it easier for businesses to work with local councils to get through the economic downturn.

The report, ‘Back to Business: Local Solutions’, outlines a five point plan for what councils and business leaders can do:

• Councils will cut bureaucracy, red tape and jargon so that it’s easier for small businesses to get the help they need from local authorities.
  
  
• The Government will be urged by councils to consider making small business rate relief automatic, so firms that qualify for it don’t have to go through a lengthy application process.
  
  
• Councils will try to bring forward major building projects where planning permission is not required, helping to create work for small companies.
  
  
• The Chambers of Commerce network will provide local tailored help to small firms that are looking to expand into export markets.
  
  
• Unnecessary restrictions should be dropped so that it’s easier for councils and businesses to work together in getting people back in to work.

Cllr Margaret Eaton, Chairman of the Local Government Association, said:

”Councils have a vital role to play in supporting small companies through the bad times.  The closer businesses and councils work together, the better it will be for local areas. Cutting bureaucracy, red-tape and jargon is just one way to make that happen.
 
“Small firms are crucial to maintaining healthy local areas and they form the backbone of this country’s economy. Councils want to give small businesses the best possible chance of getting through the tough times and will be pushing the government to make small business rate relief automatic for all companies that are eligible.

“Town halls are taking decisive action to protect local businesses from the worst effects of the recession and this report shows councils committing to do all they can to help small companies stay afloat. Just as councils are helping residents through the tough times, they’ll be fighting hard for local businesses too.”

Director-General of the British Chambers of Commerce, David Frost said:
 
"Businesses suffer when faced with bureaucracy so it's good to have a commitment from councils to cut red tape and jargon. It's especially welcome at this challenging time.
 
"Chambers of Commerce are at the frontline in dealing with the local economy as their business members create wealth and jobs. This report highlights significant variety in how different localities perform during times of economic downturn. While national policy-making has a key contribution to make in addressing the downturn, so do the efforts of councils and businesses working at a more local level.
 
"Our member businesses are facing a worsening economic situation, worrying in terms of its size and speed of decline. If they are to survive in this environment and drive our eventual economic recovery issues like the availability of cashflow, the development of our skills base and export support at the local level will be critical. Local Authorities can help the delivery of these issues, but because it's local businesses that are the wealth creators in their locality, this activity needs to be undertaken in close effective partnership with their local private sector."

click here to download the report in PDF format>>

Ends

Media Contacts:

Fiona Cunningham
Tel: 020 7654 5812
Email: f.cunningham@britishchambers.org.uk

OR

Sam Turvey
Tel: 020 7654 5813
Email: s.turvey@britishchambers.org.uk

Notes to Editors:

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is the National Voice of Local Business.
The BCC sits at the heart of a powerful nationwide network of Accredited Chambers of Commerce serving business across the UK, which employ over five million people.