LibDem proposals will help local shops, says Dundee's Finance Convener (Dundee Liberal Democrats)

Dundee Liberal Democrats <info@dundeelibdems.org.uk>

LibDem proposals will help local shops, says Dundee's Finance Convener

January 14, 2007 7:50 AM

Scottish Liberal Democrat proposals will help local shops

Plans by the Scottish Liberal Democrats to assist essential local shops could make many free from paying business rates, said Dundee City Council's Finance Convener today (Sunday 14th January).

The proposals form part of a Three Point Plan that has been announced by Scottish Liberal Democrat Leader Nicol Stephen MSP to support essential local shops, reduce business rates in Scotland to below English levels, and support businesses in introducing micro-renewables such as mini wind turbines and solar panels.

Nicol Stephen MSP said, "If I am elected as Scotland's First Minister in May, I will lead a government that gives our local authorities the powers to exempt essential local shops from paying business rates where there would be a real benefit to the community.

"This could make a huge difference to the overheads of these businesses and give them the chance to invest in improvements they might otherwise be unable to afford."

Here in Dundee, the City Council's LibDem Convener of Finance Cllr Fraser Macpherson said, "Nicol Stephen's proposals are an imaginative way to help local small business. In Dundee, the City Council has recently received the results of research showing how some district shopping centres in Dundee face significant challenge. Liberal Democrat proposals will certainly go a long way to helping the viability of local small business."