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Local Conservatives have welcomed a Government announcement that Small businesses and local shops will find it easier to get their tax cuts as the Government scraps form filling rules to help increase take up.

The normal tax discount for small businesses give by Tamworth Borough Council, known as Small Business Rate Relief, has already been doubled this year, but the Council wants to help as many as possible claim the discounts they are eligible for.

Cllr Robert Pritchard, Portfolio holder for Businesses Rates at Tamworth Borough Council said

"It is clear that helping small shops and businesses grow is a crucial part of supporting our town centre and wider local economy. The rate discount for small businesses has already doubled in the past few months, but we want to see as many small business ratepayers as possible to claim their tax cuts. I welcome the change in the rules so councils can administer the scheme without being caught up in unnecessary Government red tape. This is great news for Tamworth's businesses and shops."

To help eligible businesses claim their tax cut in the future new measures in the upcoming Localism Bill will end the legal requirement for ratepayers to fill in an application form first. Councils will be free to administer Small Business Rate Relief in a way that best serves local businesses and local needs. The Government will also amend legislation to ensure that all eligible businesses automatically have their discounted bills calculated using the small business multiplier.

The council has already given out £264,000 in Small Business Rate Relief to local businesses, Mr Christopher Pincher, MP for Tamworth said:

"Small shops and businesses are crucial to the town's economy and we know they were hit hard by the recession that Labour left us. All too often the tax support Government offers is tied up in so much red tape that small businesses are put off from getting it. As we rebalance the economy we are determined to give them a helping hand. We shall also let councils set discounts locally and we are considering proposals to let them keep what they collect. This will give councils a genuine financial stake in their local economy and let them target their support at local shops, pubs, post offices and start-up enterprises."

If a business's wishes to claim Small Business Rate Relief they can call Tamworth Borough Council on 01827 707709.

Local Conservatives have launched a campaign to get Tamworth's Town Centre shops open on Sundays. Currently Sunday shoppers only have a choice of Ventura Retail Park or going to other town centres. Local Conservatives believe this needs to change and have been working hard at the council to support the town centre. These include themed markets, more outdoor events, free Sunday parking on council run car parks, a £2 million investment in the Castle, Midlands Music Festival, award winning CCTV system and the new Gungate development. However, we believe more needs to be done and we are campaigning to get the town centre shops open on Sunday's.

Cllr Daniel Cook, Leader of Tamworth Borough Council said,

"The council is doing a lot to bring residents, visitors and tourists into the town centre. However unless all our shops open on Sundays we can only do so much. We need to come together as a town to support our town centre shops and help them open on Sundays"

He added

"Local Conservative Councillors will be looking at the new Local Economic Partnerships to support town centre trading in Tamworth. The new Government is launching many new schemes to support local businesses and Conservative councillors will be using each one to help local businesses."

Cllr Robert Pritchard, who announced the Conservative campaign said,

"I called at the State of the Borough Debate for town centre businesses, the public and the council to work together to make Sunday a town centre trading day. This is not something the council can do but something the whole town can work together to achieve. Tamworth Town Centre trading on Sunday can only be good for Tamworth, its economy and local job prospects".

He added,

"The town centre being an even better trading environment will attract even more high street shops and restaurants to Tamworth. Local Conservatives are passionate about the town centre and want to work with local businesses to improve our town for everyone."

Tamworth Borough Council already holds many outdoor events on Sundays which attract thousands of people to Tamworth. Recently the Midlands Music Festival brought over 20,000 people to Tamworth Town Centre.

Cllr Steven Claymore, Portfolio holder for Economic Development said,

"Local Conservatives are calling on everyone to sign their petition which will be presented to the local chamber of commerce. To show your support you can sign the petition online at www.tamworthsos.co.uk."

He added,

"We will be collecting signatures in Tamworth Town Centre on Saturday 11^th December 2010. I hope everyone will come down and sign our giant postcard from Tamworth Residents. This will be presented to the Chamber of Commerce."

Cllr Robert Pritchard, the deputy leader of the council and the driving force for the new BMX track in Tamworth has provided an update on where the plans are with regards to the proposed track on the Tamworth Borough Council Blog.

For a number of years Rob has worked with a BMX Racing Club, registered with British Cycling, and Belgrave Residents’ Association to bring a track back to Tamworth. This one is a ‘play track’, aimed at youngsters. If plans get the go-ahead, the site would be at the back of Deltic, in Glascote.

The BMX racing club has more than 40 members and such is its success, it has been invited to get involved withother BMX projects outside Tamworth.

The association applied for a Lottery bid of almost £50,000 and Cllr Pritchard has now written to all residents in the area to give them an update.

The brand new bigger and better Tourist Information Centre has now opened at the Philip Dix Centre.
The new venue, which is based in the Philip Dix Centre, Corporation Street, is much bigger than the Market Street shop and will be able to offer visitors much more.
People wanting tickets to see the Staffordshire Hoard when it arrives at Tamworth Castle will be able to snap them up at the new TIC.
As well as having more space to showcase the town, local food produce will be on sale and heritage groups will be able to display information about their work and historic Tamworth.
The TIC will also be able to open for longer – inline with events at the Assembly Rooms, it will also be more accessible for disabled visitors and a car park is available directly behind the proposed new location.
And according to Cllr Robert Pritchard, the relocation will make the TIC easier for people visiting Tamworth by bus and train to visit. He said: “The TIC is essential for us to showcase Tamworth and everything the town has to offer. We simply did not have the space at the Market Street venue to grow. We want to make sure we are promoting Tamworth to the best of our abilities; this new venue will allow us to do just that.”
To see videos of the new TIC click here http://www.tamworth.gov.uk/council_and_democracy/council_news/latest_headline/t

Community BMX Track One Step Closer

A new community BMX track came one step closer after Tamworth Borough Council's cabinet voted in favour to support a residents group with its proposals to build a community use BMX track.

The council is working with the Belgrave Residents Association to help them develop a National Lottery "Changing Spaces" bid for funding for a small track intended for use by local children.

Local residents have asked the council to consider a proposed site on the Deltic. Residents proposed site is next to the old BMX track that was destroyed when the A5 bypass was built.

Local residents in the area will be surveyed over the spring to ask their opinion on the project and proposed site.

Cllr Robert Pritchard said,

"This project is a great opportunity for local children, however it is essential that there are activities available for them, many are asking me for a BMX track. With BMX becoming an Olympic sport it will only become more popular."

A key part of the project and gaining a "Changing Spaces" grant is community approval, if residents don't want it happen it wont. In the spring local residents, school children, community groups will get a survey asking their opinion on the project. The track will also require planning permission but at this stage we are after local peoples views.

The project is also being supported by the Tamworth Crusaders (Tamworth BMX Club), Staffordshire County Council through the local member's grants scheme and numerous ward councillors.

Cllr Pritchard added,

"We want the public to let us know what they think, without their views we won't know if we have the right place. The site will serve local children in Belgrave, Stonydelph, Glasote and Wilnecote. I think this is why the project has generated so much interest from all generations within the community."

Tamworth’s Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman, Christopher Pincher, and Robert Pritchard are pushing ahead with their campaign to stop dodgy traders selling their cars from grass verges on the public highway. They are delivering thousands of leaflets to local homes in affected areas – such as Stonydelph, Wilnecote and Amington telling local residents how to report “grass verge car lots”.

The Conservative team is also paying regular visits to local hot spots where sale cars are known to appear. If they find a car for sale, they take the make and registration and report the vehicle to the local police.

Mr. Pincher said:

“Local residents do not want this sort of dodgy practice in their community. The cars are being sold without proper checks and parked where they are they present a distraction for other motorists."

“The new system we have championed really works. On Saturday at 11am Cllr. Robert Pritchard and I reported two cars for sale on Pennine. Within two hours local Police Constables Dave Kelly and Steve Thornhill were on the scene and within three hours both cars were gone. That shows how good, visible policing which involves the community can really make a difference.”

Cllr. Pritchard commented:

“Local residents raised this concern with us and we have responded by getting the police and council involved. But to really make this work we need to community involved too. So do please report these dodgy dealers’ cars.”

If local residents see any cars for sale from grass verges, they should make a note of the registration, make and colour of the car and where it is parked. They should then call the Police Public Service Desk on 08453 30 20 10 to report the vehicle. The police will then take action.

The Linear Lakes got a big spring clean on Wednesday 30th May with local people helping clean the local nature reserve. The clean up event was a great success.

Tamworth Borough Council is eager to help clean up the area and get local residents involved at the same time. Tamworth Borough Council’s Street Wardens took the lead at the days clean-up and enlisted the help of the Tamworth’s Sea Cadets who were more than happy to get wet on the day.
Tamworth’s Sea Cadets used canoes row out into the lakes and hooked large items that were dumped in the lakes. The junk was then dragged out of the lakes by the Street Wardens Councillors, Residents and Tamworth Borough Council Mobile Caretaking Team.

At the same time local Councillors and residents carried out a litter pick of the area around the lakes.
Not only will the Sea Cadets be rewarded with the knowledge that they have ‘done their bit’ for the local area, they will also be given a certificate to commend them for their efforts. The Council are working in partnership with the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and have sought advice to ensure that the wildlife on and around the lakes was not disturbed during this sensitive breeding season.

Local Belgrave Councillor Robert Pritchard said:

“Getting involved is always a lot of fun, it is really good to see that the Sea Cadets are taking part in the clean up. It was a great day out and an opportunity to meet other people as well as do something positive for the area. We all enjoy a walk or bike ride around the lakes and its better when there is no litter spoiling the view. We collected a huge of junk that had been dumped in the lakes. I am really proud that we collected so much, but would have been even more proud if we didn’t need to collect other people’s fly-tipping to begin with.”

The lake cleaning day is a small part in the ongoing scheme to keep the lake system clean and tidy. The Council already looking into dredging the lakes in the near future to ensure the water is flowing well and wildlife is healthy. There is also a multi agency “Operation teamwork” style clean-up being planned.

Councillor Danny Cook, Deputy Leader of Tamworth Borough Council said,

“I have been to many lake clean-ups and it is great to see the Council, local groups and residents working together to tackle problems. It is important that areas such as the local nature reserve are preserved for the environment and local wildlife. I would ask those who abuse the lakes to think about their actions and the effect they have on the local environment. I would also like to thank the Street Wardens and sea Cadets once again for the amount of effort and hard work they put into projects such as this. They are an asset to the local community.”

People who want to find out how and where Tamworth Borough Council spends the taxpayers’ money can now find out via the council’s website. The move to publish all money spend over £500 means it is now easier than ever before for residents to take a look at public spending. The publication of the data is in line with government legislation and was also a pledge of the controlling Conservative group in the local elections.

The Borough Council has also published the salaries of senior officers.

Councillor Rob Pritchard, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, said: “This move means anyone can take a look at what the Borough Council is spending its money on. The publication of this data means we are now more accountable than ever before, while giving the public an easy way to find out where their money goes. We are committed to being as open and honest as possible with the taxpayer and with councils across the country facing budget cuts, it is important the public can see their money is being spent wisely.I would like to encourage a generation of ‘armchair auditors’ to get involved and help identify council waste. If you see something you think we can save money on please let us know.”