Update from Cllr Rowley and Cllr Robathan
The former Conservative administration’s work on candy stores is paying off. Westminster Council officers are investigating the non-payment of business rates of £7.9million for by stores.
This money which, as the vast majority of the £2.4billion of business rates collected by Westminster, is redistributed across the country, impacts all tax payers.
The stores sell unsafe, unhealthy and fake products as well as grossly overcharging customers. Many have money change operations.
Council officers use the powers they have around trading standards, business rates avoidance and planning. The police and HMRC need urgently to undertake a thorough investigation of these businesses.
