When I started this thread I wanted to consider the relationship between charities and the Council, particularly the effects of the number of charity shops on the high street. However, I felt I could not do this justice without considering the tax and financial advantages given to charities, in more detail. Sorry about that ! Charities are good things ..... right ? Probably .... but... it depends....maybe. How does a charity spend its money I would hope that most of the money raised by a charity is spent on  its "primary purpose". I believe this usually does not involve a conventional charity shop although a charity might have a "trading" primary purpose: https://www.charitytaxgroup.org.uk/tax/income-corporate-taxes/trading/806-2/ By way of example, the aims and activities of our very own Compton Care are set out on the Charity Commission website as: "To relieve and provide palliative care to persons principally resident in Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sa

Much has been said about internet shopping, its negative effects on the “high street” and therefore its negative effects on the value of retail real estate. There has also been some comment about the effect of numerous charity shops, on the well-being of the high street. Maybe charity shops mean that a landlord will receive rent that would not otherwise be received. Also, a charity shop might generate a degree of footfall that would not be generated if a property remained empty. However, maybe the landlord will receive a higher rent because a taxpayer supported entity such as a charity can afford to pay more.  When a property is let to a charity, the local authority invariably foregoes a large proportion of the Business Rates it might receive if the property were let to a "normal" shop or other trade. To what extent does a local authority then have to replace the % of Business Rates which a charity shop does not pay, by looking to get higher Business Rates from "normal

Is Wolverhampton's Business Improvement District worth the money ? “Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) are partnerships between local authorities and local businesses which are intended to provide additional services or improvements to a specified area”. https://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/SN04591#fullreport The setting up of a BID involves: 1. A proposal by a local authority or by a business ratepayer or by a company whose “purpose” is to develop the BID area or which has an interest in the land. 2. The proposal sets out the detail and the business plan including, the services to be provided, the size and “scope” of the BID, who is liable for the BID levy, its amount and how it is to be collected. 3. The proposer gives advance notice to the Secretary of State of the intention to put the BID proposal to ballot and then gives advance notice of the actual ballot. 4. The businesses in the BID area which are subject to the potential lev

In October 2018, the local media reported that Wolverhampton City Council's debt was approaching £1bn. That's around £4k for every man woman and child. https://www.expressandstar.com/news/local-hubs/wolverhampton/2018/10/09/wolverhampton-council-set-to-owe-more-than-1bn---watch/ This was updated in July 2019. https://www.expressandstar.com/news/politics/2019/07/30/row-erupts-over-wolverhampton-councils-borrowing-levels/ The issue is not a new one. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-25641703 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-31751486 https://www.expressandstar.com/news/local-news/2015/12/17/revealed-wolverhampton-councils-debt-mountain-hits-600m/ https://www.room151.co.uk/151-news/news-roundup-pwlb-borrowing-reaches-464m-mhclg-returns-unspent-817m-to-treasury-us-firm-enters-advice-market/ "PWLB borrowing reaches £464m in February Councils borrowed £464m from the Public Works Loan Board during February, according to figures released