Localism Bill shows some good news for small independent retailers – but should it go further?
Small independent retailers can take heart. Consumers will always state they prefer and support small independent retailers than a ubiquitous chain store. However, with the recession dragging on shopping with small independent retailers isn’t always feasible for consumers. Larger companies have a buying power that small independent retailers just don’t have. They can also broker deals that small independent retailers just can’t match.
Consumers feeling the pinch will choose the cheaper option over small independent retailers, making life hard for the small independent retailers.
The Localism Bill does have some glimmer of hope for small independent retailers. It makes it possible for localised officiating boards to make small business rate tax reliefs, beneficial to small independent retailers, an automatic thing. Speeding up what was a cumbersome process and increasing the viability of new small independent retailers and easing overhead costs for small independent retailers.
Local businesses, including small independent retailers, and residents are also able to agree to quicker change of use, or temporary uses (“meanwhile uses”), of shops otherwise left standing empty. This should speed up the start up process for small independent retailers, and encourage high street footfalls by avoiding the boarded up shops so common now in high streets, as more and more small independent retailers close down.
Small independent retailers could also benefit from changes proposed to the Bill. Both Labour and the Liberal Democrats proposed amendments to the Bill that are helpful to small independent retailers. Their focus is turning towards suffering high streets and small independent retailers, and less on retail and business parks, providing support where it is needed, with small independent retailers.
Both parties appear to backing small independent retailers. More powers are given to local small businesses (including small independent retailers) and residents, in an attempt to balance out the existing power imbalance between supermarkets and chain stores and small independent retailers, which have been driving small independent retailers out of business.
Labour are taking additional steps help, they have started a Save Our High Streets campaign on behalf of the retailers. They aim to raise awareness of the problems facing small independent retailers in the current climate. They are also suggesting a temporary cut in VAT to 17.5%. Good news for small independent retailers.
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