In Cannock Chase, the Labour-led District Council have introduced charges for town centre businesses who want to display A-boards and have street furniture (tables and chairs) outside their businesses.

The policy is a direct tax on local small businesses in Cannock Chase and in danger of further undermining our town centres. Small cafes could be expected to pay as much as £500 a year to have tables and chairs outside their shop. 

These charges are anti-small business and are driving independent businesses away from our town centres at a time when we should be supporting them.

We call on the Labour-led District Council to abolish their charges and support our town centre's small businesses.