Coventry – best for business?6

Fiona McEvoy Grassroots

Rebellious businesses in Coventry have resisted paying an additional Business Improvement District (BID) levy after ‘technical delays’ have meant that many are yet to receive the various benefits and services promised to them.

According to today’s Coventry Telegraph, more than 600 of the 2,600 firms on 84 industrial estates in the city that are being forced to pay this extra tax (averaging at around £500!) have received court summonses this year for non-payment. Of these, 400 are now being faced with the bailiffs and even jail, all at a time of worrying recession for these smaller enterprises.

The BID company – the ironically named ‘Coventry Best for Business’ – has completely failed to provide these small businesses with the new WIFI and CCTV they were promised in return for the fee, and yet legislation leaves the City Council pretty impotent as they remain obliged to push forward with it’s collection.

The local authority is keen to see a reballot of all 2,600 of these companies on the BID’s future and seemingly refunds will be considered, but that doesn’t detract from what a stressful waste of time, money and effort (from both the public and private sectors!) this represents.

Fiona McEvoy

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Paul

Just shows that Tory councils are every bit as badly run as Labour ones.
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This is a ridulous tax that is a total waste of money for most small businesses. Is there a website where people can lodge their disapproval?
We help people that are starting business and we fail to see how this helps.
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This tax does nothing to assist local businesses. An idea developed by self serving people for their own interests.
Steve

This scheme is a complete waste of time and money and has delivered NOTHING??
Alec Jones

Hazel Noonan and emptying bins.
Fact: emptying bins costs money.
Fact: 2007 Hazel Noonan on Shareholders panel for bin emptying company
Fact: Using H&S to avoid emptying bins will save the company a lot of money.
Question: is Hazel still a shareholder using her position to enhance the bin companies profits?
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Coventry is administered by Coventry City Council. The city is divided up into 18 Wards each with three councillors. Coventry has usually been controlled by the Labour Party over the past few decades, and at times they appeared to be in safe control.