ACS

ACS out on the campaign trail met London MP hopefuls Justine Greening (existing MP for Putney) and Zac Goldsmith (candidate for the seat of Richmond Park) who were talking with local shop owners in Richmond. At the meeting Justine who is a member of the Conservative Communities and Local Government Ministerial shadow ministerial team set out the Conservatives plans for automatic rate relief for small businesses and a discretionary power to give discounts for local authorities that want to support particular local businesses.

The meeting was organized by the Richmond campaign group ‘support our small shops’. An innovative group of local businesses seeking better support for the diverse traders of Richmond Park. Zach Goldsmith who helped to set the group up said that the number one concern for Richmond traders is the problems with parking in the Borough and stated that he believed that greater discretionary powers for locl authorities to develop innovative solutions are part of the solution to these problems.

A new approach to business rates is one of the ten priorities identified in the ACS Heart of the Community document. ACS highlighted the need for better delivery of rate relief and tackling issues such as parking and empty properties, which can often hamper existing businesses and hamper entry into the high street.