Kirklees Liberal Democrat group are encouraging people to shop local in the run up to Christmas.

The group is backing Small Business Saturday, an annual UK-wide grassroots campaign that encourages people to support small businesses within their communities.

Small Business Saturday will take place on Saturday December 7 and as well as encouraging small businesses to promote themselves and work with other small businesses, the campaign aims to encourage shoppers to ‘shop local’ and support small independent businesses in their areas.

In November last year, Kirklees Liberal Democrats presented a motion at the full council meeting which called for the council to actively participate in Small Business Saturday.

The council motion, which was approved, required Kirklees to: Promote Small Business Saturday via the council website; directed that officers work with local businesses and local business enterprises, to sign up to the scheme; required the council to develop a year-round communications plan promoting local small businesses and encourage residents to shop local and to find ways to increase the number of shoppers to choose local shops in the lead up to Christmas.

Almondbury Liberal Democrat councillor Alison Munro, who led on the group’s council motion last year, said: “Following approval of our council motion for Small Business Saturday last year, I believe that Kirklees Council could still do more.

“Encouraging shoppers to buy from local shops and suppliers whenever possible, will help to protect businesses and save local jobs.

“It is really important more than ever that we all try to buy from local shops as our small local independent businesses are experiencing huge challenges and pressures.

 

 

“Running a small business comes with enormous challenges, but one that’s often overlooked is shoplifting.

“Often this has a significant impact on small businesses, resulting in a loss of revenue and undermining their sense of security and stability.

“Shoplifting is a problem for some of the businesses across Almondbury and Kirklees where shop owners are having to deal with the consequences of it and its impact on employees and is also an issue at a national level.

“In addition, there is a cost to our shops when their stock is being stolen on a daily and weekly basis resulting in a loss of revenue.

“I believe the Government must act now and introduce stricter measures that are needed to ensure the police bring those criminals responsible to account.

“Additionally, I believe that the new Government has overlooked many of the issues facing small businesses as they will be impacted by many of the changes announced as part of the Autumn Budget, such as minimum wage increases and rises in National Insurance contributions by employers and businesses have to had to contend with inflation and rising costs, including rising energy costs, labour shortages and changing consumer behaviour for years now.

 

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“There is no Small Business Plan! For too long, our high streets have been let down by previous governments.

“Business rates are an outdated form of tax that needs urgent reform and as a party, we have called for a complete reform of the system and replacement of business rates with a Commercial Landowner Levy, which would be based on the value of the land where the business is located.

“I believe that this would make taxes fairer for small businesses. It would also help to level the playing field, with online retailers and supermarkets, as well as boosting growth in local economies.

“I’m glad that the new Government is making moves on business rates reform and have pledged to protect the high street, but we need bold and urgent action.

“Many of the challenges our small businesses face are national ones that require leadership, commitment and bold action from Government.

“However, it’s not just about policy and intervention from local and central government. All of us have a part to play and we can all support small local businesses by shopping local, whenever possible.”

 

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