Rother District Council Back Conservative Motion to Protect Pubs and Restaurants
At Full Council on 24th February, RDC voted unanimously in favour of Conservative Cllr Neil Gordon’s motion to express support for the district's hospitality sector, including pubs, social clubs and restaurants.
The motion states that the Leader of the Council shall make the case to government for the increase of the minimum threshold for employers NICs, in order to help small businesses across the district thrive.
The passed motion also signals support for CAMRA’s campaigns on reducing the rate charged on alcoholic drinks and the VAT charged on hospitality businesses.
Cllr Neil Gordon says that “Pubs are struggling under new tax hikes from the government and increased economic pressures. It is vital as a council, and as individual councillors, we do all we can to protect our pubs and restaurants.”
Cllr Gordon also stated during his speech in the chamber that “pubs and restaurants are the beating heart of rural and urban communities in Rother, and it is vital that we do support them”.
And some businesses “may be forced to close” due to rising secondary NIC, with the whole hospitality sector in the UK seeing an increased cost of £3.4bn (Number from a recent Guardian article), in addition to increased business rates, with the average pub paying from £4000 to £9600 (Colliers)
Link to the motion:
https://rother.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s12112/In%20accordance%20with%20Council%20Procedure%20Rule%2013%20consideration%20be%20given%20to%20the%20Motion%20to%20Council%20submit.pdf
Link to the webcast: https://rother.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/952987/start_time/6006000?force_language_code=en_GB
