A SNAP online survey by Haslemere Chamber of Trade on the Chancellor’s announcement that councils would in future be able to keep all the income from business rates drew a “small but interesting response” from the local business sector.

Haslemere chamber president Craig McGowan said the results of the survey showed the general feeling among members was unease at the thought of Waverley being “entrusted with all the income from business rates”.

Mr McGowan told The Herald: “The thought does not fill the members with much confidence, generally.

“One positive that might come out of it is the greater scrutiny councillors would come under if this idea does come about. Hopefully, it may lead to a more professional and accountable council both among the councillors and officers.”

The detail behind the Chancellor’s announcement on business rates will not be published until November 25 at the earliest and changes are not likely to be fully implemented for at least three years.

Writing in the chamber’s online newsletter, Mr McGowan said business people locally were unsure about “letting Waverley Borough Council have the money in view of its past record in managing the district – and the generally held view that councillors had little understanding of business needs”.

But Mr McGowan said the numbers responding to the survey were low and should not be taken as a reflection of wider attitudes.

Results of the survey published last week showed 50 per cent of chamber respondents felt the move would enable the borough to deliver some improvement in services – but the others forecast no noticeable change or were not able to decide.

Suggestions on how Waverley might spend the revenue ranged from reducing business rates and abolishing parking charges or, as one put it: “Looking after the towns – supporting small businesses rather than thinking up ways to make money for themselves, such as parking.”

Two-thirds of respondents felt the move would either have a neutral or a “don’t know” impact on their businesses. Others were equally split between positive and negative forecasts.

Half the respondents said there would be no effect on actual business rates, but a further one-third predicted an increase. Others said rates would fall.

Asked for their response to what George Osborne had called: “The biggest transfer of power to our local government in living memory”, respondents from the chamger described it as “dangerous”, “a huge gamble”, and “a waste of time and money”.

One commented: “There should be less red tape and ‘one size fits all’ in theory, but do councils really understand what it’s like to run a business?”

A Waverley Borough Council spokesman told The Herald: “The majority of Waverley councillors have direct experience of working in or running businesses of all shapes and sizes.

“As a result the council recognises that the success of local businesses is key to the success of the borough as a whole.”

The spokesman added the Government had made it clear changes will be “fiscally neutral” for local authorities, which will not gain or lose from the reforms.

lEast Hampshire MP?Damian Hinds, the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury will talk about current and future economic policy and thinking in relation to small business, at a chamber gathering on Thursday, November 26 – time and venue to be conformed. Find out more at www.haslemerechamber.co.uk