• Welcome to the new B.I.R.D. Forum. Please be sure to read the "New Member / New Registered ? Please Read" thread in the Coffee Shop. This contains some important information. To become a full member ( £5.90 a year ) simply click on your user name near the top on the right I hope you enjoy the new site ................ Jaws ( John )

Council spending

Jaws

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Until they ( councils ) recognise they are part of the problem it will only get worse..
In the mean time here in Thetford another massive ( just ) out of town shopping complex is being built nd has already been fully let. why ?
Because as a new build the local authorities have given a 5 year break on council tax.. and guess what ... although 99 year leases were on offer, all have opted for a five year lease, so in five years we will proly have yet another derelict empty shell on our hands
 

andyBeaker

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Until they ( councils ) recognise they are part of the problem it will only get worse..
In the mean time here in Thetford another massive ( just ) out of town shopping complex is being built nd has already been fully let. why ?
Because as a new build the local authorities have given a 5 year break on council tax.. and guess what ... although 99 year leases were on offer, all have opted for a five year lease, so in five years we will proly have yet another derelict empty shell on our hands
I suppose I can applaud the objective but only a mad fool can see any future for high street retail.

Although, in fairness, Bluewater which is full of fashion retailers and restaurants seems to be busy enough.

Eastbourne is nearing the end of a massive redevelopment of the Arndale Centre and have ended up with Wilco as the anchor tenant for the new bit. How times have changed......
 

Oldandbald

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Did nobody think to ask themsel
I suppose I can applaud the objective but only a mad fool can see any future for high street retail.

Although, in fairness, Bluewater which is full of fashion retailers and restaurants seems to be busy enough.

Eastbourne is nearing the end of a massive redevelopment of the Arndale Centre and have ended up with Wilco as the anchor tenant for the new bit. How times have changed......
I went to Bluewater once and I'm fairly sure that will fail too once those blonde bimbos work out how to use the internet.
 

andyBeaker

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bit of a non story that..the hold ups will be at custom points I reckon..
Perhaps they would be better off employing more staff
Oh, nothing to do with....oh no, I'm not allowed to,say that on here, am I.

:taptap:
 

andyBeaker

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bit of a non story that..the hold ups will be at custom points I reckon..
Perhaps they would be better off employing more staff
I may be wrong, but I rather suspect the predicted delays at Dover will be at custom points where vehicles that were 'previously EU' that could sail through (within reason) will now have to stop.

If I read the article correctly the idea is to increase capacity at other ports to relieve the expected pressure at Dover.
 

Beardybiker

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Last edited by a moderator:

Centaur

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The only way to rejuvenate the High Street is to level the playing field versus Amazon et al by doing away with business rates in the towns. This will require central government to make up the shortfall. BTW the biggest part of the Education Authorities budgets is retired teachers pensions. We need to move away from unfunded schemes such as all public superannuation schemes to funded schemes as in the private sector. Perhaps changing them to defined contribution as well. Police and fire service schemes are far too generous. Eightieth schemes where the member is only paying 6% is a gift and they are still whinging over changes due to increased life expectancy. Simple answer retire at 60 as before on full pension but it stops at age 70 or accept a lower pension for rest of natural. Let the whingers decide which they want!
 

Jaws

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andyBeaker

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The only way to rejuvenate the High Street is to level the playing field versus Amazon et al by doing away with business rates in the towns. This will require central government to make up the shortfall. BTW the biggest part of the Education Authorities budgets is retired teachers pensions. We need to move away from unfunded schemes such as all public superannuation schemes to funded schemes as in the private sector. Perhaps changing them to defined contribution as well. Police and fire service schemes are far too generous. Eightieth schemes where the member is only paying 6% is a gift and they are still whinging over changes due to increased life expectancy. Simple answer retire at 60 as before on full pension but it stops at age 70 or accept a lower pension for rest of natural. Let the whingers decide which they want!
I'm not sure the retail/high street issue is that simple - actually I do think it is simple but in another way - internet sales are increasing year on year. Personally nothing makes me happier than ordering something on the internet if it means I don't have to go to a shop. Just ordered a coat from m&s, they are happy to deliver three sizes and for me to return the two I don't want. Free delivery. Why wouldn't I??

But I wholeheartedly agree that internet retailers should be taxed in the country where the purchase is made rather than The Cayman Islands or similar.
 

Pow-Lo

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I may be wrong, but I rather suspect the predicted delays at Dover will be at custom points where vehicles that were 'previously EU' that could sail through (within reason) will now have to stop.

If I read the article correctly the idea is to increase capacity at other ports to relieve the expected pressure at Dover.
No bad thing. Maybe proper checks will stem the influx of so-called refugees who’ve crossed 47 safe countries to get here.
 
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