"Have the guts and will for a fight"

Your article of Saturday, January 18, regarding “misleading” posters, at Stone The Crows! Barker’s Pool, caught my attention.

Coun Mazher Iqbal informs us that perceived unfairness regarding business rates should not be addressed towards Sheffield Council, as they only collect what is set by central government.

If businesses wish to protest about business rates they should address their concerns directly to central government, would seem to be the message from Sheffield Council.

We have been hearing from businesses big and small about this “threat to the high street” for months if not years.

If Sheffield Council, and specifically its cabinet member for business and investment, are content to simply wring their hands, instead of fighting the corner of the very people who are attempting to maintain retail outlets on our city streets. Can we believe that the council are working in the best interests of Sheffield?

Or is it simply easier to trot out “not our problem, blame the Tories”.

Your article also implies a couple of other points.

Firstly, your picture shows the shop front of Stone the Crows!, Is it in what was Mothercare?

If so shouldn’t the council be delighted to have a flagship location quickly retenanted.

Coun Iqbal points to “a discounted rent of close to 80 per cent”.

If such incentives are required in “prime locations” is this not an indicator of how dire the climate of the high street is?

Alternatively, it could simply point to grossly inflated rents, imposed by Sheffield Council, which then need deep discounting to either make them appear to be reasonable, or simply to entice a tenant.

Secondly, resorting to suggesting that by bringing the matter to the public’s attention the shop has breached its lease smacks of paranoia on the council’s part.

Do they write a “no criticism of your landlord clause” into the lease?

Either this is admitting that the council are likely to be criticised by its tenants so let’s stifle it, or that the council is scared stiff of any criticism.

Instead of bullying your tenants Coun Iqbal should be actively seeking reform in rates.

Get out there, form some alliances with other local authorities and challenge Westminster to reform this outdated and frankly daft form of taxation.

The irony here is that a Labour administration at local level could easily hold the Tories’ feet to the fire, but it’s much easier to pass the buck and complain that “we can’t do anything.”

We are hearing much about how at national level the Labour party must be an effective opposition.

It’s time we saw some evidence that you have the guts and will for a fight.