Planner1   424 #181 Posted March 24, 2015 If your city centre is not attracting the shoppers it is time for a bit of radical thinking like trying to do something about it. Yes, that was Sevenstone wasn't it?  ---------- Post added 24-03-2015 at 22:09 ----------  For that to have any relevance you have to assume that multiple random members of the forum are for some reason lying to you about why they don't visit the city centre. Or, you could try having an open mind, and wonder why a small parking charge is putting people off. (It might be that finding the cheap locations is difficult, and that the on street parking costs considerably more, at least as part of the reason  The cheap locations are predominantly immediately adjacent to the Inner Relief Rd, so they aren't difficult to find at all.  The maximum hourly charge in any Council car park is £1 per hour, even in those in the very centre of the city.  National Government policy says that Council parking schemes should encourage long stay parking to be in off street car parks. That is the reason that the off street car parks are considerably cheaper than on-street parking.  The on-street is more expensive to discourage longer stay use, but there are no time limits on the city centre on street parking (because drivers said they found the time limits unhelpful), so drivers have a choice.  ---------- Post added 24-03-2015 at 22:18 ----------  Meadowhall might be a problem but if the council had looked at it as an opportunity then we could have had a very different city centre. They could have used Meadowhall for big retail and lowered business rates in town to encourage independent retailers to set up shop. You're forgetting that the Council do not set business rates. The Government do that. The Council merely collect them for the Government. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
sheff1johnny   10 #182 Posted March 24, 2015 Yes, that was Sevenstone wasn't it? ---------- Post added 24-03-2015 at 22:09 ----------   The cheap locations are predominantly immediately adjacent to the Inner Relief Rd, so they aren't difficult to find at all.  The maximum hourly charge in any Council car park is £1 per hour, even in those in the very centre of the city.  National Government policy says that Council parking schemes should encourage long stay parking to be in off street car parks. That is the reason that the off street car parks are considerably cheaper than on-street parking.  The on-street is more expensive to discourage longer stay use, but there are no time limits on the city centre on street parking (because drivers said they found the time limits unhelpful), so drivers have a choice.  ---------- Post added 24-03-2015 at 22:18 ----------  You're forgetting that the Council do not set business rates. The Government do that. The Council merely collect them for the Government.  Maybe landlords of these empty shops should offer cheaper rents, this would be a start. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Planner1 Â Â 424 #183 Posted March 24, 2015 Maybe landlords of these empty shops should offer cheaper rents, this would be a start. Most of the empty shops are in the area which will be demolished for the new retail quarter development (was Sevenstone), so are only likely to be attractive to a more transient type of business. Businesses wanting a permanent home aren't likely to want them. Â The problem as I understand it is that retailers these days require a bigger, better standard of unit than is available in Sheffield. The guy from Scottish Widows (who own the Moor) was saying as much in the Star tonight. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
discodown   11 #184 Posted March 25, 2015 You're forgetting that the Council do not set business rates. The Government do that. The Council merely collect them for the Government.But the council has some autonomy when it comes to allowing discounts or waiving when they start collections. Business rates aren't a flat, fixed thing across the board Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Cyclone   10 #185 Posted March 25, 2015 But the council has some autonomy when it comes to allowing discounts or waiving when they start collections. Business rates aren't a flat, fixed thing across the board  The only thing I can find is hardship relief. Which wouldn't apply until a business was already suffering, obviously. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
discodown   11 #186 Posted March 25, 2015 The only thing I can find is hardship relief. Which wouldn't apply until a business was already suffering, obviously.Thats because its at individual councils discretion and not a national scheme. Have you ever seen those signs outside a business unit thats up to let that say something like "No Business Rates for X time" or something similar? Its because the council is willing to give some form of relief to a start up business. source: I work for council in department for bens and revs, which includes business rates and council tax so am aware of such schemes Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
BHRemovals   10 #187 Posted March 25, 2015 meadowhall killed the city centre Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
JFKvsNixon   10 #188 Posted March 25, 2015 Thats because its at individual councils discretion and not a national scheme. Have you ever seen those signs outside a business unit thats up to let that say something like "No Business Rates for X time" or something similar? Its because the council is willing to give some form of relief to a start up business. source: I work for council in department for bens and revs, which includes business rates and council tax so am aware of such schemes  My wife's business never paid business rates for the first year, this was out in West Yorkshire though.  I remember because they set up the direct debit and then noticed 6 months later that the money hadn't been taken, it led to an almighty panic until they found that they wasn't liable for the first year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Planner1 Â Â 424 #189 Posted March 25, 2015 The only thing I can find is hardship relief. Which wouldn't apply until a business was already suffering, obviously. Â Ther are government schemes for business rates releif: https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-business-rate-relief/overview Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
max   13 #190 Posted March 25, 2015 The debate about business rate discounts reminded me of this Roseanne episode. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Cyclone   10 #191 Posted March 25, 2015 Ther are government schemes for business rates releif: https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-business-rate-relief/overview  So not at the discretion of the local authority, which is what was implied.  ---------- Post added 25-03-2015 at 15:20 ----------  Thats because its at individual councils discretion and not a national scheme. Have you ever seen those signs outside a business unit thats up to let that say something like "No Business Rates for X time" or something similar? Its because the council is willing to give some form of relief to a start up business. source: I work for council in department for bens and revs, which includes business rates and council tax so am aware of such schemes  So legislation allows for the council to exempt a business from rates?  I'm not saying it doesn't, I just want to understand the mechanism. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Mecky   10 #192 Posted March 25, 2015 Again, why do people think Sheffield has to compete with Leeds and Manchester? If you like those places so much, go and live there ... oh wait ... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...