Threat of new tax for firms
Wednesday 7th November 2007, 3:09PM GMT.
Businesses in Telford could be hit by new taxes and workers could be ordered to pay for their company car parking space under controversial plans announced today by the Government.
The Government finally dropped the name Birmingham City Region in favour of a new “sub region” which will see the Black Country, Birmingham, Telford and Coventry working together.
But ministers opened up the prospect of a new row with business leaders and the public by proposing that the sub region could raise millions of pounds through a supplementary business tax and workplace parking charges.
Communities and Local Government Secretary Hazel Blears announced that 13 sub regions would see local authorities combining to boost their economy, and improve job prospects, housing and transport.
The new sub regions could be given extra powers to collaborate in promoting prosperity and development, and improving quality of life, and that could include separate tax-raising powers.
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In December 2006 we found out about this intention to give the City Region tax-raising powers and made it public then. It’s taken businesses nearly 12 months to decide they don’t like the idea?
According to the Telford Live forum (telford-live.com) local business were told about this a few years ago and said that there would have to be something spectacular about the city region if they were to accept extra taxation.
I guess the “something spectacular” isn’t about to materialise.
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