Leatherhead & District Chamber of Commerce

Members’ Newsletter - March 2005

From The President’s Pen

It doesn’t seem long ago that the evenings were dark and the weather cold – yet here we are with Easter gone, spring almost blossoming and (I hope) a long summer ahead of us.

May I draw your attention to a few things mentioned in this issue of the Newsletter.

“Lucy’s Letter” contains information about what’s planned in Leatherhead for St. George’s Day – Saturday April 23^rd.  Lucy and Chamber Director Patricia Lawless have been working hard to arrange something special for the town – I hope you will all be able to go along and support it.

Business rates are a significant expense for many small businesses.  There is an article about business rate relief which appeared in “Mole Valley News” and which is reproduced here by kind permission of Mole Valley District Council.

The Leatherhead Tomorrow project is now well under way and Colin Langley – the Steering Group Chairman – has contributed an article about the project and about how you might help.  One Chamber member has already played a significant part!  Several schools in the area submitted logo designs for the project and Richard Punnett of The Visionary Company in Bridge Street, Leatherhead took the best of the entries and developed it into the finished logo – he did this free of charge, too!  On behalf of the Chamber I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for the work he has done.

If you would like to help with the Leatherhead Tomorrow project then please contact me via the Chamber or directly on 01372 457310.

I hope you all had a happy Easter and are looking forward to a successful trading summer.

John Howarth, Chamber President

The Leatherhead & District Scene

Lucy’s Letter …

… Lucy Hanson ~ Leatherhead Town Centre Manager

The town will be gearing up shortly to celebrate St George’s Day.  Town Centre Management and Swan Centre Management have teamed up to provide entertainment from 11.00a.m. until 4.00p.m. on Saturday 23^rd April.  Children can help build a banner at the workshop or get their faces painted.  Musical entertainment will be provided by Medieval Musicians who will be roaming the town and a Fire Juggling Jester will be performing throughout the day.  There will be lots of competitions for people to get involved with, including a Find The Shield Treasure Hunt, Slay The Dragon competition and a Children’s Fancy Dress competition (gather at 2.00p.m. outside Sainsbury’s for judging at 2.30p.m.).

We would love as many businesses in the town as possible to participate in some way, by dressing-up your windows or perhaps even dressing-up yourselves !  Maybe you would like to ‘hide a shield’ in your shop or provide a prize.  If you would like to get more involved, please contact either myself on 01372 363652 or Patricia Lawless, Swan Centre Manager, on 01372 376358.

Work is progressing on information to be included in the Town Centre Notice Board, which is located just outside Argos.  One side of the notice board will contain a Town Centre Plan with a shopping directory and the opportunity for businesses to advertise for a small fee.  On the other side there will be What’s On information and a map of the town highlighting points of interest and essential information and services.

Work has started on a new visitor leaflet for the town and surrounding area, which we hope to publish in May.  The leaflet will be of interest to both visitors and local residents alike.  The leaflet will contain a fold‑out map and have a pocket in the back to hold information which needs to be updated more frequently … for example, information regarding the Explorer Bus, Eating Out and What’s On at The Theatre.  The leaflet will be a comprehensive guide to what there is to see and do in Leatherhead and the surrounding countryside and villages.

The new Leatherhead Directory will be compiled shortly, so look out for your letter regarding advertising in the publication.  You will also be asked to check your listing and update where necessary.  The Directory will once again be sent out via Royal Mail to households in Leatherhead and the surrounding areas, as well as being distributed throughout the town.

If you would like further information regarding any of the above or would like to find out about more events happening in the Leatherhead area please look at the website – www.visitleatherhead.com or contact me, Lucy Hanson, via Tel: 01372 363652 or Email: lucy.hanson@molevalley.gov.uk, or pop in to see me at the Help Shop, 25-29 High Street, Leatherhead.

LEATHERHEAD Tomorrow

The LEATHERHEAD Tomorrow project to conduct a Market Town Healthcheck for Leatherhead and surrounding communities during 2005 has been launched at five public meetings in Ashtead, Bookham, Fetcham, Leatherhead and North Leatherhead. The project will assess all the activities, facilities and services that work well and those that need improving to meet the aspirations and needs of businesses and residents.

Under the guidance of a 14-strong Steering Group representative of the communities, and the direction of Project Co-ordinator Sophie Lund, focus will be on the economic, environmental, social and community, transport and access facets of the town and its catchment area.  On the business front, the aim is to capture the views and ideas of all types and sizes of enterprise.  The Chamber President, John Howarth, is leading the Economic Working Group which will ensure you have your say as individuals and as the community body representing business interests in the area.

The Healthcheck process, developed by the Countryside Agency, is well-proven in some 300 towns around the country.  The timeplan for LEATHERHEAD Tomorrow calls for widespread in-depth consultations and surveys to be complete by late June to enable report-back at public meetings before school holidays start in July.  These will set-out the findings to date and indicate the preferred vision for the Leatherhead area of tomorrow.  Having confirmed or refined these findings and vision, they will be worked-up into action plans and projects to be presented at a final round of public meetings in November.  The resultant Healthcheck report is the document other towns have used successfully to lever funds from the South East England Development Agency and other fund holders to implement the chosen projects.

The timing for LEATHERHEAD Tomorrow is just right.  As reported in a feature article in Surrey Life magazine in January, “Leatherhead not only has future potential, it has a lot going for it right now”.  The improvement to key shops in the Swan Centre, the arrival of Argos and Travelodge, the vitality of the restaurants and other service outlets and the continued office developments such as the Police Federation national headquarters are all building up momentum to revitalise the town for all concerned.  This is a firm foundation on which to build.

A benefit experienced during the Healthcheck elsewhere is that the co-operation involved across the communities has united them to achieve common goals.  LEATHERHEAD Tomorrow aims to enjoy these same benefits whilst enhancing the quality of life for us all.  We look forward to your involvement in making sure the project fulfils its aims and objectives.

[Colin Langley, Steering Group Chairman]

Business Bulletin

Business Backs Community Bus

As many of you will be aware, 2005 is the 100th anniversary of the founding of Rotary.

To commemorate the occasion, the Rotary Club of Leatherhead persuaded nearly 100 local companies to each donate £100 towards the cost of a new Community Bus … the previous, fifteen-year-old vehicle being past its prime.  The mini bus was presented to Councillor Bridget Lewis, Chairman of Mole Valley District Council, on the 23^rd of February.

A huge “Thank You” to all of those local businesses whose generous donations made the purchase of the new Community Bus possible.

If you are involved with a community group and require transport, do consider applying to use the Community Bus.

The cost and arrangements are as follows: you first would need to pay a one-off membership fee of £25 to become "Group Members" of the "Dial-a-Ride" scheme administered by MVDC, and this is to provide insurance cover.  Rental charges are £19.50 for a half-day and £39 for a full day, then 20p per mile plus diesel at cost.  The bus seats 12 passengers, in addition to the driver.  The driver must hold a clean, ordinary, driving licence, which will need to be produced, and must be over the age of 21 … there is no upper limit.  There are some fixed bookings (e.g. every Friday afternoon and the fist Saturday every month).  Sadly, the bus cannot be taken abroad.

If you would like to book, please speak to Peter Jenkins at the Dial-a-Ride office in Park House, Leatherhead, on telephone: 01372 383333.

The Leatherhead Rotary Club is a community service club of local business people which organises many activities in the area, and is always seeking to recruit new members.  There is no longer any gender discrimination and we would particularly like to encourage business women to join us.  It has excellent fellowship between its members.  We meet on Wednesday evenings in the upstairs room of Trattoria da Carlo, 103 The Street, Fetcham.  If you would like to find out more, then please get in touch with your fellow Chamber Members: Ken Prentice on 01372 458200; Graham Ryding on 01372 376236; Chris Thorpe on 01372 385970; or Mike Ward on 01372 377488.

[Mike Ward, Principal, Abard Architect]

Presentation By Citizens Advice Bureau

On 9^th March 2005 Leatherhead Citizens Advice Bureau gave a presentation to the Leatherhead Chamber of Commerce on the new Dismissal and Disciplinary Procedures and Grievance Procedures that came into effect on 1^st October 2004.  It is now a legal requirement that all firms which have employees, however large or small the business, implement these procedures, inform their employees about them and comply with them.  Failure to do so can lead to awards at Employment Tribunals being increased by between 10% and 50% and can lead to dismissals being ruled automatically unfair.

The steps involved in the new procedures were described, and it was confirmed that, before the procedures are commenced in an individual case, it is in order for employers to give warnings and, if investigation is needed, to suspend an employee provided the suspension is on full pay.

Those attending the presentation were recommended to contact ACAS by telephone: 08457 474747 or via the website: www.acas.org.uk for further guidance.

[The following article, which appeared in MV News, is reproduced by permission of Mole Valley District Council]

New Rate Relief for Small Traders

Business rates for the financial year commencing on the 1st April 2005 will be calculated using the rateable values shown in the 2005 Valuation List.  The rateable value of each property broadly represents the yearly rent the property could have been let for on the open market on a particular date, which for the 2005 Valuation List is the 1^st April 2003.

A Mole Valley ratepayer can appeal against the value shown in the list if they believe it is wrong.  Further information on the grounds for making an appeal, and on how to make one, can be found on the Valuation Office Agency’s website at www.voa.gov.uk or from the local Valuation Office in Redhill.

Property values normally change a good deal between each revaluation.  Transitional arrangements help to phase in the effects of these changes by limiting increases in bills and phasing in any decreases.  Any transitional adjustments are shown on the non-domestic rate bill we issue you. Further information is available from the Revenue Section at Mole Valley District Council or on the following website: www.mybusinessrates.gov.uk.  All the money we collect goes to central Government who redistribute it to local authorities by way of grant.

Your Business Rate bill will be calculated by multiplying the rateable value of the property by the appropriate multiplier.  From 1st April 2005 there are two multipliers: the standard non-domestic rating multiplier and the small business, non-domestic rating multiplier.  The former is higher to pay for small business rate relief.

The multipliers for 2005/2006 are:

A new relief called Small Business Rate Relief is available from 1^st April 2005.  This comes at various levels to ratepayers who occupy a single property with a rateable value of under £10,000.  Eligible ratepayers in a single property with a rateable value between £10,000 and £15,000 may have their bills calculated using the lower non-domestic rating multiplier.  If you have not already applied for this relief, forms are available from the Revenues Section at Mole Valley District Council.

For further information about this, please contact Dave Price, Revenues Manager, on: 01306 879157, or Email: dave.price@molevalley.gov.uk.

You & Your Chamber

New Members

The Chamber extends a warm welcome to our new Members ~ we hope they enjoy the benefits of Membership, and we look forward to meeting them at future Chamber events.

Vintellect

Owned and run by Managing Director Clare Young, and located at Fetcham Park House, Lower Road, Fetcham, Surrey, KT22 9HD, Vintellect provide innovative corporate and private entertainment in the form of personalised and tailor-made wine courses, vineyard tours and various wine challenge events.  Clare can be contacted via Tel: 01372 371093, Fax: 01372 272295 and Email: clare.young@vintellect.co.uk.  You can also visit the company Website at: www.vintellect.co.uk.

Rate Relief Round-Up

Following lengthy negotiations, Hurst Warne, acting on behalf of the Chamber and fellow Members, have concluded settlements with the District Valuer's office regarding the town centre works undertaken back in 2002/03.  As a result of the disruption caused during the building work period, temporary reductions of up to 20% were secured on the worst affected properties.  Lesser allowances were agreed for those properties on the edge of the works area.  Hurst Warne have now written to all parties who requested the Chamber’s assistance, detailing the outcome of the settlement.

On a related matter, the new 2005 business rating list comes into effect at the beginning of April.  Hurst Warne, which has a specialist rating department, again warn Chamber Members to exercise caution if and when appointing representatives to act on their behalf regarding appeals against the new rating assessments.  If in doubt, always ensure that the representative is a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.  For further information please contact Nick Smith at Hurst Warne 01372 360190 or by Email: nick@hurstwarne.co.uk.

[Nick Smith, Hurst Warne Ltd., Chartered Surveyors & Commercial Property Consultants]

Member’s Spotlight

(An opportunity to publicise your organisation to the Membership.  Up to two profiles will be presented in each Newsletter, and contributions are published in order of receipt.  Your next Newsletter will be printed in May 2005.)

 

 

Scarlett PR

Scarlett PR is a new joint partnership founded by two former colleagues Juliet Addington and Jane Collyer, with 14 years combined lifestyle PR experience within the travel, food/drink and beauty industries.

Scarlett PR was formed to provide a friendly, efficient and creative service to both journalists and clients alike.  We believe passionately in our clients’ businesses and therefore choose to work with a handpicked selection of like-minded clients.

We believe close liaison with our clients has been the key to our success.  We see ourselves as an extension to clients’ businesses, where we can help build brand awareness.

Once we have agreed objectives we consistently meet and exceed set targets.  Combined with creative thinking, a unique approach and excellent media contacts we have gained extensive, quality coverage in a variety of publications.

We have both worked on large and small brands and our clients include: Tregenna Castle, which is a lovely, ivy-clad 18^th Century castle in Cornwall; Draycote Hotel, a brand new, contemporary property in Warwickshire; and The Parlour – a gorgeous mini day spa in Shoreditch.

A recent success story has been that Tregenna Castle’s six-month PR campaign generated £110,000 worth of press coverage reaching millions of people nationwide.  Articles appeared in The Times, Closer and New Woman magazines.

“Jane and Juliet have always been a pleasure to work with over the years.  They are friendly and very efficient and constantly go that extra mile to help.  I whole-heartedly recommend them.”

Jennie Warner – Good Housekeeping

“I have worked with Juliet and Jane from Scarlet PR on a number of occasions and have always found them to be incredibly friendly, thoroughly enthusiastic and most professional in all aspects of their work.  Their responses to requests - no matter how urgent or obscure - are always prompt and polite.  I would have no hesitation in recommending their services to any company or brand seeking positive media exposure.”

Eileen Leahy - Lifestyle Editor of Saturday Express Magazine

If you would like to talk to Scarlett PR about how PR could raise awareness of your brand and benefit your business

Please call Jane Collyer or Juliet Addington on: 01372 817 133

Email:  jane@scarlettpr.co.uk  or  juliet@scarlettpr.co.uk

or visit:  www.scarlettpr.co.uk