A decent initiative from Mike Freer and Barnet Council

This is my one hundred and forty second blog on Blogspot. I think it is unique. This blog is proof that if Mike Freer genuinely does something sensible, I will recognise that and support it. I guess it's a shame he's been Council leader since 2006 and it's the first time I've had cause to say this , but well done Mike Freer.

It seems that Barnet Council have a new policy of paying local suppliers within 10 days. As we occasionally do work for Barnet Council, that will make a difference and is a very sensible and helpful initiative. Having argued tirelessly for more support for small businesses, this is what one might consider a green shoot of common sense. If Mike would like to address a few other issues which will make a difference, maybe he could consider these :-

1) Reduce the time taken to process appeals against business rating (my last one took 2.5 years to be heard, whilst Barnet sat on my cash).
2) Address the issues with parking in shopping local shopping centres (he acknowledged this is a problem with his Xmas rebate)
3) Instruct his planning officers to remove pointless restrictions placed on planning consents (Former Councillor Jane Ellison sorted one of these out for me & Mike agreed that the Council were being ridiculous - hasn't stopped other businesses having similar problems though).
4) Have a sensible policy of Town Centre regeneration & sensible policies towards bookies, banks and estate agents taking over shopping centres.
5) Preference for local suppliers in tendering for council contracts. Large multinationals have resources to deal with the bureacracy, local companies don't. This means that there is not a level playing field
6) Support for small businesses to employ disabled/long term unemployed
7) Support for small businesses to train people with educational issues
8) Waive or discount license fees for start up businesses in 1st & 2nd year.

All of these things will have a major impact on the success of small business in Barnet. The Council seem to be singularly unaware of the costs that bureaucracy imposeson small firms.

Click Here - http://www.barnet.gov.uk/press_releases.htm?id=1885 - for details of the new council payment policy.