New council must forge even closer links with the business community

Business Comment by David Richardson, Highlands and Islands development manager for the Federation of Small Businesses

With all the chaos in the world it is easy to forget that Scotland’s local authority elections are imminent. And these elections are important, for if you believe that rebounding from the pandemic, surviving the current inflationary pressures that are making life such a misery, and creating a vibrant Highlands with a well-balanced, sustainable population is important, then who you vote for on May 5 matters. Why not check what each of your ward’s candidates is promising before casting your vote?

While much of the decision-making and spending is nowadays controlled by the Scottish Government, FSB Scotland has published a manifesto that identifies some simple steps that Highland Council can take to help local businesses and communities.

"Keeping trade local" concerns councils as much as consumers, and while Highland Council’s spend with local firms is exemplary, coming second only to Shetland, an additional two per cent would boost the local economy by some £5.8 million a year.

The council should also focus on town centres, blocking out-of-town developments unless damage to centres has been assessed first and there is no alternative, and it can help by reopening its offices, thereby enabling its staff to spend in shops rather than online.

Businesses also need a fit-for-purpose road network – the arteries that carry much-needed goods and customers – and they need financial help with their journeys to net-zero. And those wishing to start up or scale up their businesses need a well-funded Business Gateway to assist them.

Highland Council can also make operating local businesses far easier by putting its customers – businesses and consumers – first. We need simple, joined-up online systems, an end to unacceptable planning delays that can cost businesses tens of thousands of pounds and jeopardise job-creating projects, and we need the council to fully assess and understand the likely impact of new money-raising proposals and other initiatives like the short-term lets scheme on businesses, economies and communities before it implements them.

And finally, we need the new council to place economic recovery front and central and to forge even closer links with the business community – for together, everyone achieves more.

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