tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6274602978151973604.post6467089124436641457..comments2024-01-07T06:24:51.616+00:00Comments on the widow's world: Why a Large Retail Levy is not right for Bristoloneexwidowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06574357521257043728noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6274602978151973604.post-437834282780020482013-08-17T18:30:25.433+01:002013-08-17T18:30:25.433+01:00Anna, your comments on Fashion are interesting - a...Anna, your comments on Fashion are interesting - and Highlight a large number of issues that are lost when focussing just on Supermarkets, as the Local Works campaign does.<br /><br />Whilst I disagree that the Large Retail Levy would achieve what you achieve, I do think we need to be more creative in encouraging small businesses - and in creative and imaginative uses of the many empty outlets in the Town Centre.<br /><br />Anonymous: whilst the Local Works campaign is focused on Supermarkets, and the petition and the motion originally brought to Council had this in their titles, it isn't possible under law to just target supermarkets - as the Council discussion document makes clear, as did the LD amendment. <br /><br />Having a higher threshold if £1m could make it more about supermarkets, but even the you would have other businesses affected, not least IKEA who would stand to pay an extra £283k p.a. which they wouldn't need to pay if they were to relocate to, say, Bath. Or Cribbs Causeway.<br /><br />oneexwidowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06574357521257043728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6274602978151973604.post-50985669736151110002013-08-17T17:08:55.962+01:002013-08-17T17:08:55.962+01:00Wasn't it the LibDems who turned this from bei...Wasn't it the LibDems who turned this from being something about supermarkets into being something about all retail.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6274602978151973604.post-4798233150714282412013-08-16T13:14:10.296+01:002013-08-16T13:14:10.296+01:00SMEs have also been shown to create more jobs per ...SMEs have also been shown to create more jobs per £X thousand in turnover than multi-nationals, and are more adaptable to changing markets. Therefore making them better for local areas, jobs and improvement districts, from which they are barred by market monopolies. The retail levy would seek to create a more level playing field if the money were spent wisely on helping SMEs to grow and improve. Annanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6274602978151973604.post-59283066824521484212013-08-16T13:05:02.213+01:002013-08-16T13:05:02.213+01:00It is true that only 32% of the affected businesse...It is true that only 32% of the affected businesses are supermarkets. (13/33). The other huge sector effected is fashion - 32% also. There is a huge need to open up the market in Bristol for smaller, more ethical fashion businesses to provide jobs for local people. There is an emerging market of creatives and local makers who find it very difficult to break into the retail sector because of monopolies held in the city centre by high-street fashion stores feeding disposable clothing made in cheap factories in Bangladesh. The retail levy could likewise be used to support the growth of these sorts of local businesses and re-balance the playing field. Annanoreply@blogger.com