Call for more local help for small independent businesses
12/12/2025
The council is being asked to look at its policies for discretionary business rates relief
There’s a call for more to be done to help small independent businesses in our area.
Councillor Eddie Reeves, who’s the leader of the Conservative group at Cherwell District Council, wants the authority to look at its policies for discretionary business rates relief, particularly focusing on local independent businesses which are facing genuine financial hardship, rather than national chains and large retailers.
In a motion which will be considered at a full meeting of the council next week, Councillor Reeves says: “Local hospitality businesses across North Oxfordshire — from family-run restaurants, pubs and cafés to small independent venues — face substantial and growing financial pressures due to rising operating costs, higher taxes and a stagnating economy.
“There is now a growing political consensus about the need to provide meaningful help to small independent retailers and hospitality businesses on our high streets.”
If agreed by fellow councillors, as well as reviewing the existing policies, the council would need to advertise these schemes more widely to ensure that local businesses can benefit from them.
Councillor Reeves also wants the leader of the council to write to the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, urging him to review the national business rates system and its impacts on local hospitality and high street businesses.
The full council meeting will be held on Monday evening.
Published: by the Banbury FM News Team
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Susan Henn On 12/12/2025 at 4:37 pm
it’s common sense to reduce business rates for small independent businesses. How lovely it would be to be able to walk through town and buy fresh produce like we used to. Small business owners can’t afford the extortionate costs incurred before they even start to make a profit. No wonder the town centre is dying. I walked through this morning and found it very depressing. The only shops open were barbers. nail bars and Asian food shops. If we could buy local produce we would all be much healthier. Government, local and national, should encourage people to eat better and this would be one way to make a difference.