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Waterford Chamber of Commerce recently arranged two separate meetings with the City Manager and the City’s Councillors, to express the concerns of the business community regarding commercial rates in the forthcoming 2011 budget.
An initial meeting with the City Manager and his team took place on 29th October and a subsequent meeting was arranged where all the City’s Councillors were invited to attend. The meeting with the City’s Councillors took place on Tuesday, 16th November. In attendance were Councillors Mary Roche, David Daniels, David Cullinane, Cha O’Neill, Hilary Quinlan, Tom Cunningham and Jim Darcy. The Chamber Rates Committee who met the City Manager and Councillors were Tom Murran, Anne Marie Caulfield, Kathleen Fitzgerald, Terry Power, Tina Darrer and Michael Garland.
Chamber President Tom Murran commented, “The Chamber is calling for serious consideration to be given to reductions in commercial rates for 2011. This is crucial in the context of the substantial pressure on businesses to control costs in the current economic environment. A reduction in rates would support the competitiveness of local enterprises and ultimately protect local jobs.
All our members companies have reduced their cost base to an absolute minimum and the only costs left that need urgent reductions are unfortunately out of their control i.e. commercial rates, water charges, employers’ PRSI etc. We have called for the City Council to look very closely at their budgetary submissions when the issue of commercial rates and other business charges are discussed. It is very clear that even a small reduction in commercial rates may very well be the one thing that keeps a business trading in 2011. It may even be a carrot to encourage some businesses to start employing once again.”
It is hoped that this open dialogue and co-operative approach, with the City Manager and City Councillors, on matter of mutual interest will ultimately produce positive results.
Waterford Chamber and the City Council will continue to meet regularly to discuss all relevant business matters. This is part of a continued excellent working relationship that has been built up over the last few years. |
