Rate mobile shops, say county authorities
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• Plans to charge mobile shops with a levy based on turnover so as to protect ratepaying traders from unfair competition are being put to the Government by borough councils throughout the country.
The idea, conceived by Manchester City Council, has the support of the rating committee of the Association of Municipal Corporations. The Council is, at the same time, promoting a Bill with provisions to control the licensing of mobile shops on public health grounds.
On the question of levying fees on mobile shop traders, the Council says it is "most concerned" at the growth of this form of business.
In a report to the AMC it states: "It is recognized that in some areas particularly in the early stages of housing development mobile shops can meet a social need but they are deeply concerned at the unfair competition with ordinary shopkeepers which can ensue in ordinary residential areas.!'
The AMC rating committee says it considers that occupiers of mobile shops should make a direct contribution to the rate fund, both to make some recompense for the services provided by local authorities and used by market traders and to protect rate-paying traders from unfair competition.