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Local authorities 'could do more' to help small business

Apr 22 2008

Decisions made by local councils can have a major effect on small firms, according to the Federation of Small Business (FSB).

Planning decisions and parking restrictions can mean that people go to out-of-town shopping parks rather than town centres, leaving firms based in centres without business, says FSB spokesman Simon Briault.

Local authorities should also make it easier for smaller firms to secure public sector contracts, he adds.

There are also tax relief rates that some small business owners are not aware of, Briault comments.

'Very often the form to apply for it is on a very obscure website which the council conveniently don't tell anybody about,' he states.

'Planning, parking, procurement and business rate relief are the four big areas where local councils have a lot of contact with small business owners and could do a lot more to help them,' he concludes.

The Federation of Small Businesses is a campaigning pressure group which promotes the interests of small firms and the self-employed.

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