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Bitch about!
Roberta Lee Comments on… "Where are the people¿"
FIRST a quick recap… to our issue last week. We have been in contact with the relevant people and now waiting for a statement to bring you about why Southport Stations sign says welcome on the exit side of the station. So watch this space as it will be in next week.
This week I would like to thank Ann Hershel for your email asking "Southport was a buzzing town last year, but this year it is getting very quiet? Do you have any ideas why? If there is a lack of people as it looks like to me, in the town, how are the businesses and the night time economy going to cope?"
Well good old me Roberta Lee, your Merseyside Investigator went out to see what I could uncover…. I too see businesses shutting down all the time and find like you the town is becoming like a ghost town in the early evening and when the weather is cold and/or wet. It is at the moment dead at night, but it is a holiday resort. Where do all the local people go though? The attractions are here to use, but they do not stay in town…. I will be looking into this over the next few weeks and will bring you a report after Easter as this is a very complex question…
Please send us your questions and I will try and investigate it for you… It can be on any issue that is connected with Merseyside.
Roberta.Lee@southportreporter.com
Just a small added note:- Congratulations to
Jo Jo and Teyo for getting engaged. They got engaged and then entertained their guests with their family's bands, the King Sized Taylors and Spanner on 12 March at my club. All of us at Roberta Lees wish you the very best for the future.
Life if short, so keep smiling now…
Roberta Lee xXx
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SOUTHPORT PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY SHOW 2004
AN exhibition of photographs by award winning lens-snappers from all over the country is now open to the 3 April, at the Atkinson Art Gallery on Lord Street in Southport. Open Monday to Wednesday and also Friday from 10am to 5pm and Thursday and Saturday from 10am to 1pm. Sunday Closed. Admission is free.
GOVERNMENT CASH INCENTIVE
IS A SWIZZ
TAX experts in Liverpool are warning small businesses that a cash incentive created by the Inland Revenue could cost more than they think.
Small companies are told by the Revenue they could get up to £825 over the next four years for filing their returns online.
However, PKF accountants and business advisors say closer inspection reveals Government trickery and spin and should be treated with suspicion.
By 2010 employers with fewer than 50 employees will have to file their PAYE returns online each year but the Government is trying to encourage small businesses to start filing online early with the offer of tax-free incentive payments. If small employers file online by the 19 May of each year between 2005 and 2009, they will receive a total of £825, which will be credited to their PAYE accounting record.
Jonathan Mounsey, partner at PKF in Liverpool said:- "Whilst this may sound like a genuine incentive to start filing online sooner rather than later, small businesses would do well to remember that, like many Government offers, the financial advantage could be negligible. Not only will employers have to buy Revenue-approved software to complete PAYE returns at the beginning of the 2004/05 tax year but they will have to wait for their first incentive payment of £250. It will be credited against their 2005/06 tax payments and they will only get a cheque if they actually ask for it."
In contrast, the Inland Revenue is now collecting tax earlier from individual employees. By collecting tax on individuals' investment income trough the PAYE tax code applied to their earnings (at an effective rate of up to 50 per cent of their salaries) the tax is paid up to nine months earlier than it has to be under the self-assessment rules.
Mr Mounsey added:- "It is clear that he Chancellor's attempts to increase the tax take is forcing the Inland Revenue to take a singular approach to tax collection. Their slogan seems to be 'We want you to pay us now, but you will have to wait for anything that we owe you'. Such penny pinching is yet another example of the Government's unnecessarily ruthless treatment of businesses and taxpayers and we are likely to see more of the same in this year's Budget on March
17th".
A SWIZZ
LEADING Liverpool law firm, DLA, is holding a
seminar aimed at landlords and tenants of commercial property.
As from June 2004, substantial changes to the Landlord and Tenant Act
1954 will come into effect. They amount to the most radical amendment to legislation since the act introduced 50 years ago.
DLA is organising a seminar, addressing the key provisions and procedures under the new law.
Kevin Lee, a property litigation partner at DLA, said:- "We expect a high demand for this event, as it's essential that all professionals dealing with commercial premises understand the implications the new law will
have on their practice."
The event is free and it will take place between 5:30-7pm (registration
at 5pm) on Thursday 25th March at DLA, 7th Floor, India Buildings, Water
Street, Liverpool.
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