Barnet Conservatives out of touch with party policy on High Streets

I had an interesting chat with Helen Michael, Chair of the Finchley Traders. She is rather upset at a huge in costs of a license to put tables/chairs on the High Street. The hike being proposed by the Conservative regime at Barnet Council would add hundreds of pounds to the annual cost of the require street license.

Helen sent the following letter to the licensing department of Barnet Council.

The Licensing Team.                                                             9^th July 2015

London Borough of Barnet

North London Business Park

Building 4

Oakleigh Road South

London N11 1NP

Dear Sirs

Consultation on Street Trading

I enclose copy of my letter sent by post on 15^th June.

I have neither received an acknowledgement or reply.

I enclose further copy.

I am sure that you are already aware on this morning, on the Today programme, Mr Osborne commented on the importance of revitalising our High Streets – “preferably with free parking”.

This is in addition to a comment made in “the Wright Stuff” earlier this week where Finchley was singled out as an area where the council have, by their actions effectively ruined the high street.

Your current proposals are yet another form of taxation which will further add to the decline of the High streets of Barnet.

Please acknowledge receipt of these letters and confirm that they will be taken into consideration at the committee meeting.

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The Licensing Team.                                                             15^th June 2015

London Borough of Barnet

North London Business Park

Building 4

Oakleigh Road South

London N11 1NP

Dear Sirs

Consultation on Street Trading

Thank you for your letter of 3^rd June, informing me of the consultation on charges for street furniture and  ‘A’  boards, and inviting my reply by1st July.

I have read your proposals.  At a time when the trading environment is harder than ever, you should consider making the High Street more attractive by encouraging tables chairs parasols etc along the High Road.

If the High Street is to survive the Council has a responsibility to its residents and traders to move with the times and consider helping with regeneration rather then higher taxation.

I find it difficult to understand how you can consider what is effectively a 140%  hike in the cost of a few tables and chairs on the High Road, when the business rates are already prohibitively high.

I and the other traders see very little value in return; our streets are filthy, and many of us have to clean them ourselves as what little is done, is done so badly.

We arrange and pay for our own refuse to be taken away, a policeman is very rarely seen…

It may not be the province of your department, but it is nevertheless an indisputable and well documented fact known to all Barnet councillors, that the Council’s failure to implement recommendations for a period of free parking and the restoration of parking machines that accept coins, has led to the closure of very many shops and cafés in the Borough.

You have done away with the small business rates relief - after only one year.

Furthermore, your proposals hinder places like North Finchley, yet help Whetstone which already has the great advantage of free parking.

My proposal to you is that you or a colleague with the authority to take decisions, ideally accompanied by a councillor from the licensing  committee, accepts my invitation to a meal at Café Buzz.  This will give you the opportunity to meet the other traders and discuss the pros and cons for my customers, and for Barnet Council (I am both a council taxpayer and a resident and a business ratepayer for Café Buzz), and the impact on Business Rates should your very high proposed increases oblige me to close Café Buzz, which I would be loath to do. 

Further, I note that your earlier objection to street boards as an obstruction and a nuisance, have changed within a week to a proposal for these same boards to become a money-making exercise.

I look forward to hearing your views on all these topics when we meet.

Yours faithfully,

 

Helen Michael

Café Buzz

Chair

North Finchley Traders

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Labour Councillor Alan Schneiderman has scheduled a debate on Wednesday to raise the matter  - http://barnet.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s24537/Members%20Item%20-%20Councillor%20Alan%20Schneiderman%20-%20Street%20Trading%20Policy.pdf -

It does seem rather strange to me that the Barnet Conservatives are at odds with their party leaders, who are urging strong support of High Streets. Whilst we understand that councils are always on the lookout for soft targets for stealth taxes, attacking businesses which have had huge problems caused by the Council parking policies seems a tad unfair. Does the council really want to see thriving High Streets? Historically Small Business has been a bastion of Tory support. In Barnet, it seems that this relationship has all but broken down. We do hope that the Council reconsiders its policies and listens to what Helen has to say for once.