STRENGTHEN THE LOCAL ECONOMY

Reform of business rates

• There were measures in the Autumn Budget and the Transforming Business Rates discussion paper was published on the same day as the Budget. Key announcement in the Budget:

• A commitment to permanently lower business rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) businesses with properties valued under £500,000 from April 2026, funded by higher rates for properties over £500,000.

• Freezing the small business rates multiplier at 49.9p and increasing the standard multiplier to 55.5p for the 2025/26 rates year, commencing 1 April 2025.
• Extension of RHL (Retail , Hospitality and Leisure) rate relief for the 2025/26 rates year, though the discount will reduce from 75% to 40%, with a £110,000 cap across all properties

The Government acknowledges the business rates system is not fit for purpose in the digital age and commits to the digitalising business rates (DBR) programme by March 2028.

Revitalising our high streets

• Tackle anti-social behaviour and shoplifting: so that people feel safe when they go out to shop, eat or socialise in their local high street, putting 13,000 more neighbourhood police and PCSOs back on the beat and scrapping the Tories’ £200 rule which stops shoplifting being investigated.
• Roll out banking hubs: thriving high streets need banking services for local businesses and customers. Labour will roll out banking hubs to guarantee face-to-face banking in every community boosting local high streets and shops.
• Replace business rates: Labour will replace business rates with a new system of business property taxation which rebalances the burden and levels the playing field between our high streets and online giants. Worth noting that we should not shout too loud about this, because all we have done so far is publish a discussion paper about reforming business rates.
• Stamping out late payment: small and independent retailers shouldn’t be forced to wait months to be paid for work by big clients. Labour would introduce tough new laws to stamp out late payments and make sure more money gets to high street firms.
• Revamp empty shops, pubs and community spaces: people won’t visit high streets blighted by unsightly boarded up shops. Labour will give communities a strong new ‘right to buy’ beloved community assets to revamp high streets and end the blight of empty premises.

• I have spoken publicly of the need for visas for younger workers to help the local hospitality sector which is struggling to fill vacancies over the high season.

Supporting Addressing Public Services and Living Standards

• Local residents in Folkestone and Hythe have repeatedly voiced frustration over deteriorating public services and declining living standards.
• Collaborating with Folkestone and Hythe District Council, I am advocating for a comprehensive local economic strategy.

Saving Folkestone Sports Centre

• The closure of Folkestone Sports Centre was a significant loss for the community, impacting health, fitness, and social well-being.
• Working with the Save Folkestone Sports Centre group, I helped to secure its future by:
  • Successfully registering the facility as an Asset of Community Value under the Localism Act 2022, making it harder for the Administrator to accept a property developer-led bid for the site.
  • Worked intensively with stakeholders to support a leisure-focused bidder for the site.

Preserving Grace Hill Library

• Grace Hill Library has been a cornerstone for education, social engagement, and community projects in East Folkestone for decades.
• To help secure its future:
  • I was involved in legal action involving Kent County Council whose job it is to maintain the building and run the library.
  • I advocated for a community-led idea to re-open the library within a wider “Creative Campus” redevelopment of the area.
  • Raised the issue with Culture Minister Chris Bryant during a productive discussion on its future.
• This campaign remains ongoing until the library is fully restored.

Improving Public Transport

• Accessible and affordable transport is crucial for connecting our community to essential services:
  • Local bus services remain inadequate; I welcome the Government’s £23 million boost to Kent’s bus funding and will ensure Folkestone and Hythe benefit from it.
  • I look forward to the Better Buses Bill, which will empower local authorities to manage bus services effectively, as will wider devolution plans.
  • I continue to collaborate with local residents and bus campaigners to improve bus services locally.

Enhancing Rail Infrastructure

• Rail services are vital to our economy and residents’ lives.
  • I have engaged with Network Rail and Southeastern to discuss service enhancements.
  • I continue to campaign for the re-opening of Ashford International station to resume international services to the continent
  • I also am campaigning to shift freight from trucks to trains to capitalize on Channel Tunnel rail freight capacity, benefiting local businesses while protecting the environment.

Those who would like to feed in to my thinking on how we create a local economic plan for the future – another campaign pledge – should feel free to contact me!