Stratford District Council working in partnership to help local business

Stratford-on-Avon District Council has been working together with local landlord Gordon Bott to support local businesses in Southam.

In June Mr Bott sublet his business unit on Northfield Road, Southam to Tesco to carry out their recruitment process; a large number were interviewed, with the majority recruited locally.

The successful partnership continues as Christmas comes early for another local business as it expands its internet mail order company, Find Me A Gift.com, by moving from Kineton into the Unit in Southam allowing the business to expand during its busiest time of year.  Find Me A Gift.com has seen orders rise by almost 100% since 2008 and is anticipating a further increase of 50% this year and is hiring 150 seasonal staff from the Southam.

Cllr Val Hobbs, Revenues and Housing Portfolio says: "The District Council alongside local businesses and residents is facing a very uncertain future due to the present economic situation.  We firmly believe, however, that business is the key to a prosperous future for Stratford District and will do all we can to assist the local economy providing opportunity and support to raise business confidence to promote investment and employment throughout the District."

Gordon Bott says: "It's been a pleasure working with Stratford District Council's business rates team. I found them pro-active, responsive and sensitive to the needs of local business and job creation. Councils up and down the UK should take note." 

Section 44a is a discretionary power open to authorities where a business is only occupying part of a larger building on a short term basis (less than 12 months).  The business makes an application to the District Council including plans of the area that is unoccupied. The District Council would send an inspector out to verify this. If satisfied the District Council would then put a request to the Valuation office for them to apportion the rateable value between the occupied and unoccupied areas. They then issue a certificate and the District Council would amend the account so that the business only pays occupied rates on the bit they are in.