Saturday, August 20, 2005
Port of Tyne
Unfair Competition
We have a problem with competition in South Shields, a problem shared by a few other towns throughout the U.K.
Can anyone name me the biggest business in South Shields, which uses all of the Council services (i.e. rubbish collection, road maintenace, economic development, planning, building control etc.) but yet -on a long term basis - contributes absolutely nothing to the Borough's General Rate Fund, pays NO unified business rates, and manages to undercut the prices of it's competitors!
This is a multi-million pound business, employing many people, with huge assets and properties, and enjoys the benefits of a low cost base through the protection of an Act of Parliament.
South Tyneside Council is suffering a massive overspend in it's finances, and this particular business (if it paid rates) would wipe out the deficit at a stroke!
This business builds it's properties using (in some cases) grant aid from our government, the EEC, and local councils,and it does dip into it's own reserves to finance expansion!
Do you know who this is?
This business operates as a trust and is not accountable to any shareholders, it is one of a handfull within the U.K.
If you knew all of the facts, would you agree that this is a case of very unfair competition with it's peers? Would you not agree that these businesses should operate on the same level playing field as other private enterprises, and contribute to their local economies in a full and honest manner by paying for the services that they receive from the local Councils?
If you were the owner of a small company operating similar services as this GIANT would you not feel aggrieved that you had to pay rates and/or rents/mortgage, whilst this LEVIATHON did not?
If you don't know who it is, I will reveal the answer in the next few days.
Please note Curly's opinions and comments on this matter are very wrong, I have since been given information which substantially alters my opinions, and this post should be regarded as redundant - please see my apology above!!
_________________________________________________________________
We have a problem with competition in South Shields, a problem shared by a few other towns throughout the U.K.
Can anyone name me the biggest business in South Shields, which uses all of the Council services (i.e. rubbish collection, road maintenace, economic development, planning, building control etc.) but yet -on a long term basis - contributes absolutely nothing to the Borough's General Rate Fund, pays NO unified business rates, and manages to undercut the prices of it's competitors!
This is a multi-million pound business, employing many people, with huge assets and properties, and enjoys the benefits of a low cost base through the protection of an Act of Parliament.
South Tyneside Council is suffering a massive overspend in it's finances, and this particular business (if it paid rates) would wipe out the deficit at a stroke!
This business builds it's properties using (in some cases) grant aid from our government, the EEC, and local councils,and it does dip into it's own reserves to finance expansion!
Do you know who this is?
This business operates as a trust and is not accountable to any shareholders, it is one of a handfull within the U.K.
If you knew all of the facts, would you agree that this is a case of very unfair competition with it's peers? Would you not agree that these businesses should operate on the same level playing field as other private enterprises, and contribute to their local economies in a full and honest manner by paying for the services that they receive from the local Councils?
If you were the owner of a small company operating similar services as this GIANT would you not feel aggrieved that you had to pay rates and/or rents/mortgage, whilst this LEVIATHON did not?
If you don't know who it is, I will reveal the answer in the next few days.
Please note Curly's opinions and comments on this matter are very wrong, I have since been given information which substantially alters my opinions, and this post should be regarded as redundant - please see my apology above!!
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Curly Born in 1956
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