Behind every business is a family feeling the pinch.
The last thing we need is an extra obstacle being placed in our way by our own council.
You may well have heard that the current administration in Brighton and Hove has decided that traders’ parking permits are to rise from £350 per annum to £600. The reasons for this huge increase have not been fully explained.
In addition, on-street parking charges have increased at various levels across the city, plus some bays, currently free on a Sunday, are to be charged at the same “uniformed” level.
With respect the administration has, apparently, consulted on this matter. It is just that this consultation appears to have been ignored. Last week I met with Brighton Pavilion’s Green MP, Caroline Lucas, to air our concerns and explain what this means for businesses.
The very small and medium businesses struggling through recession are having to make huge sacrifices to ensure rent, rates and suppliers are paid. These businesses employ local people, often part-time and give this city its soul.
Trades
So what is the problem? Well, if a tradesman who works in the city needs to come and fix your boiler, or check your electrics, it will now cost much more to park near your shop, restaurant, bar or café. This cost will be passed on to the business.
Businesses are being hit by this double whammy. We are paying the price for this administration’s inability to balance its own books in a fair and justifiable way. Aren’t we, small businesses, supposed to be the ones to pull our economy out of the doldrums? Well not so, if we and those that wish to park and use this city’s amenities continue to be seen as cash cows. Businesses have to be able to make a profit and offer up a living wage to those working for them.
Caroline Lucas was sympathetic to our predicament, commenting that not only had she passed on concerns she has with this matter, but that she would do so again. She also showed interest in other factors that in Brighton and Hove cause small businesses to falter or stall.
She was aware of the intense campaigning (undertaken in very little time and gaining impressive press and TV coverage) that “stakeholders” have had to do in order to highlight this abuse of administrative powers and blatant attack on business. We discussed solutions and ideas, not just the problem.
Listen
On Friday this matter went before transport cabinet member Ian Davey where the proposal was rubber-stamped with little discussion.
Opposition leaders Gill Mitchell and Geoffrey Theobald urged Coun Davey to take time to reconsider. He didn’t listen. He’s not listening to the consultation “stakeholders” our own Green MP, our group (Traders Need Transport) set up to fight this matter on behalf of traders across the city. He’s ignored the petition and his fellow councillors. In fact it wasn’t even debated on Friday.
It begs the question. Who are this administration, and Ian Davey, listening to?
The real issue is how much more can we businesses be expected to pay? The families behind the city’s businesses are having to sacrifice and spend a lot less on shopping as our energy bills, transport costs, food bills and cost of housing escalate.
If our businesses fail as a result of these price hikes the result will be more families in need, more people not finding convenient and flexible work and ultimately, less revenue to pay for the services within our community that we have come to rely on.
In my opinion, this proposal has been all about the stick and nothing has been offered as a carrot.
No incentives have been tabled to help take the sting out of the tail. There has been no engagement with businesses at any level and as a result there is no confidence in the procedure. This administration has also refused to engage with the Economic Partnership and Brighton and Hove Business Forum.
My question to Ian Davey and the Green councillors again: Who, exactly, are you listening to? We’re here to listen and pass on our knowledge of how business runs in this city. Where are you?
Stuart Wilkie and his wife run Charlie Barley, a family-business in Meeting House Lane, and he is spokesman for the Lanes Business Network.
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