Gloucester BID is supporting #BusinessBooster campaign, led by Croydon BID and backed by many parties, including British BIDs, ATCM, The BID Foundation, the British Beer and Pub Association plus more.
Matthew Sims, CEO of Croydon BID and Founder of the Business Booster campaign said: “It is baffling and alarming that our Chancellor is doggedly sticking to measures which are out of date and out of touch with the stark and desperate reality retail, hospitality and leisure are facing. Without swift intervention, many businesses will be faced with closures, layoffs and cutbacks masking the significant financial support Government has ploughed into these sectors during the pandemic a woeful waste of money.”
Gloucester BID is urging that the Prime Minister and the Chancellor, with the Government to reassess the situation and realise that without support many of the businesses that we love will not get through the next few months. We need to see:
BUSINESS RATES RELIEF: provide businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors with 100% Business Rate Relief for up to and including 31st March 2022 [no cap]. After which we call on the Government to support the recovery by providing businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors with a 50% Business Rate Relief from 1st April 2022 to 30th June 2022 [no cap]. The current package of 25% Business Rate Relief was designed for an open economy, post Covid. The rise of the Omicron variant, increased restrictions and their impact on hospitality, leisure and retail require a response from Government that mirrors lockdown support.
VAT EXTENSION: extend the current VAT reduction for the hospitality sector of 12.5% through to 31st March 2023 to allow the sector to respond and support the re-emergence of the UK economy. The current rate of 12.5% allows businesses to achieve cost savings and most importantly of all for the economy and consumer confidence, not to pass the increased cost on allowing for the economy to recover once more in Spring 2022.
PROVIDE GRANTS: introduce grants up to £15,000 by rateable value to businesses within the hospitality, retail and leisure sector to enable them to survive in light of a festive trading period in tatters, a bleak outlook for the new Year and the impending rent quarter date of 25th December 2021. The quoted £250 million in unspent grants is not consistent in level and would place disproportionate pressure on business simply because of their location. Vast swathes of businesses would simply not receive a penny.
We have sent this letter to Richard Graham MP, Cllr Richard Cook and Gloucester City Council MD, Jon McGinty.
211219_Letter_PM Rt Hon Boris Johnson FINAL VERSION
For more information on the campaign please follow the link below.
