A stong voice for UK small businesses
Last year, 2011, was full of significant lobbying success for the FSB.
Credit easing – The Government has introduced a credit easing scheme with £20 billion and another £20 billion
in reserve to help small businesses acquire loans at cheaper rates and expand the small business credit market.
Prompt Payment – ‘Prompt Payment Day' has launched within the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills to
encourage everyone to pay businesses on time and show the impact of late payment and effects of non-payment.
Business Records Checks – Plans to fine businesses caught up in HMRC spot checks for not having the correct
documentation have been put on hold.
Small Business Rate Relief extension – The current small business rate relief holiday in England, due to end in
October 2012, has been extended until at least April 2013.
Automatic Rate Relief – Councils in England can now automatically award rate relief to businesses with a
rateable value below £12,000 by removing the need for an application process.
Government Review of Waste policy – Government agreed to help small businesses that have struggled to access
suitable waste and recycling facilities by disbanding the Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme.
Feed-In Tariff rates – When small solar PV businesses were threatened with closure due to the Government's
sudden announcement that it was to dramatically reduce the rate paid to firms that install solar PV panels, it was
challenged in court over the legality of doing so and was forced to announce a change to the retrospective nature
of the downgrade.
FSB Small Business Engagement Accord
Locally, a number of local authorities across the region have signed up to the FSB Small Business Engagement Accord.
The Small Business Engagement Accord is a voluntary code of practice for Local Authorities in London which seeks to encourage a more productive dialogue with local businesses. The Accord brings together various aspects of consultation best practice already produced, as well as specific proposals from the FSB designed to improve the level of participation by businesses in local democracy.
The Accord represents a commitment by Local Authorities to taking a proactive approach to engaging with businesses so that they are given the fullest opportunity to participate in the decision making process, and to fully understand the reasons behind the final decisions taken.
The Accord contains 14 principles for Local Authorities to adhere to which help them engage better with small businesses. In this region the Accord has so far been signed by Liverpool City Council, Sefton Council, Wirral Council, Cheshire East Council and Cheshire West & Chester Council, with Halton having also agreed and soon a to sign.