Labour-led West Suffolk Council charge local cafes and restaurants £500 for licences to put tables and chairs on pavements outside.
And the problem isn’t just the cost for small businesses but the time taken to deal with all the admin.
The council justifies the cost, saying the process involves a number of checks, including with the police and even counter-terrorism advisers!
Earlier this year, Nick Timothy MP raised with West Suffolk Council the concern expressed to him by those in Clare and Brandon and other parts of West Suffolk about the cost of this licence to put tables and chairs on the pavement.
Previously, there was no fee. West Suffolk charges the highest it possibly can under the cap introduced by the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023. The licence fee in East Suffolk is £250.
Mr Timothy received a response from the Council Leader which noted, among other things, that the fee reflects the costs of administration, consultation and enforcement while it does not impact on taxpayers.
This does not address the worries of businesses, which are already facing punishing extra costs due to the Government’s employer NIC increase and employment law change.
And in Parliament on 17 July 2025, Mr Timothy suggested to the Government that this is an example where deregulation would help high streets.
The minister gave a constructive reply. Mr Timothy will await the outcome of the work he mentioned and continue fighting against this anti-business charge which risks undermining our high streets.
