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Economy and local business a top priority for EHDC

Wednesday 18th of February 2009

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East Hampshire District Council has adopted a major package of measures to assist businesses and help combat the effects of the recession in East Hampshire.

The Leader of the Council, Ferris Cowper, is making support for business and the economy a top priority for the Council through a series of business-backing measures.

"Local authorities have a responsibility for the economic wellbeing of their communities and we have embarked on a series of practical measures to help keep businesses afloat and keep money flowing into our local economy," he said.

Support for Businesses
 
-            A campaign to increase take-up of our Small Businesses Rate Relief Scheme available for occupiers of businesses with a rateable value of less than £15,000. Take up of Mandatory Rate Relief is only 70% of capacity so many local businesses are missing out.

-            Prompt payments. Cashflow is the lifeblood of business. We currently pay 85% of all invoices within 10 days and near 100% for small businesses. We will continue to pay bills quickly and improve wherever possible.

-            Through our Business Newsletter (attached) we are informing businesses about the invaluable training and advice they can get from Business link and Enterprise First on how to beat the economic downturn.
 
-           Support for tourism and the rural economy through business networks and by promoting take up of £2m of LEADER grant support. Grants for up to £50,000 are available from various schemes for promoting rural business.

-            The Village Community Grant Scheme is an initiative aimed at helping to protect the future of everyday services and local shops across the district. Grants of up to £20,000 can be awarded until June 2011. Community associations, village shop associations, parish or formal voluntary associations and private businesses are welcome to apply.

-           £815,000 of Local Authority Business Initiative Grants are being targeted to a range of projects, from shops in villages to regeneration projects. 

-           A new online business   directory to improve networking between businesses and local trade.

-            Continuing work on the masterplan for Whitehill Bordon which will create important business and employment opportunities as we emerge from recession.

Help for Residents 

-           We are also taking initiatives to put money into residents' pockets. If we achieve 100% take-up of housing and council tax benefits this will bring another £7million into the local economy. Helping residents and businesses alike.   

-           The Council is extending its apprenticeship programme and is promoting the benefits of this approach to local businesses to help more young people into work and training. 

-            The recession has brought soaring numbers of people seeking debt advice from the Citizens' Advice Bureaux. To counteract the high interest rates that some borrowers are having to pay District Councillor Julie Butler is leading a project to establish a local credit union, to provide an alternative. 

Richard Millard, East Hampshire District Council's Portfolio Holder for Business Development said: "East Hampshire Businesses don't need to face the recession on their own. We have started on all of these initiatives and there are more on the way. These are the initiatives we have embarked on. We now need to work in partnership with the local business community. I hope we will find more opportunities to deliver tangible benefits that will maintain East Hampshire's competitive edge in these difficult times."

For more information on these schemes and to obtain an application pack, please phone 01730 234165, email business@easthants.gov.uk or visit the business pages at: www.easthants.gov.uk