Comments on: Battle of the bookshops http://www.bethanjenkinsblog.org.uk/battle-of-the-bookshops Plaid Assembly Member for South Wales West including Aberavon, Bridgend, Gower, Neath, Ogmore, Port Talbot and Swansea Mon, 23 Aug 2010 16:20:10 +0100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Roger Harris http://www.bethanjenkinsblog.org.uk/battle-of-the-bookshops/comment-page-1#comment-3553 Roger Harris Sun, 09 Aug 2009 18:02:35 +0000 http://www.bethanjenkinsblog.org.uk/battle-of-the-bookshops#comment-3553 I wouldn't worry to much about Kirsty Williams Bethan. She is so weak and ineficient as a leader and she comes over as very imature, the LibDems are going to go through the floor in Wales. I wouldn’t worry to much about Kirsty Williams Bethan. She is so weak and ineficient as a leader and she comes over as very imature, the LibDems are going to go through the floor in Wales.

]]> By: TC http://www.bethanjenkinsblog.org.uk/battle-of-the-bookshops/comment-page-1#comment-3544 TC Sat, 08 Aug 2009 21:37:39 +0000 http://www.bethanjenkinsblog.org.uk/battle-of-the-bookshops#comment-3544 Every time Kirsty Williams opens her mouth she comes across as a petulant child throwing a hissy fit, unbefitting of a national politician. I wouldn’t lose sleep over the an irrelevant politician from an increasing irrelevant party…Lib Dems are never going to get into power at Westminster and ran away from the rainbow coalition, so just one question...the Lib dem party - what’s the point? Every time Kirsty Williams opens her mouth she comes across as a petulant child throwing a hissy fit, unbefitting of a national politician.

I wouldn’t lose sleep over the an irrelevant politician from an increasing irrelevant party…Lib Dems are never going to get into power at Westminster and ran away from the rainbow coalition, so just one question…the Lib dem party – what’s the point?

]]> By: Sion http://www.bethanjenkinsblog.org.uk/battle-of-the-bookshops/comment-page-1#comment-3541 Sion Fri, 07 Aug 2009 23:25:06 +0000 http://www.bethanjenkinsblog.org.uk/battle-of-the-bookshops#comment-3541 I suppose the argument with regards to Oxfam though is that they are missusing their charity status. They are enjoying perks that independent book shops can't enjoy in not having to pay business rates, gift aid etc which gives them a massive headstart on anything any independent book shop can do. In essence Oxfam are acting like Tescos by undermining local businesses. Tescos also have their own Charity which donates to good causes, so what really is the difference? I suppose the argument with regards to Oxfam though is that they are missusing their charity status. They are enjoying perks that independent book shops can’t enjoy in not having to pay business rates, gift aid etc which gives them a massive headstart on anything any independent book shop can do. In essence Oxfam are acting like Tescos by undermining local businesses. Tescos also have their own Charity which donates to good causes, so what really is the difference?

]]> By: Matt Wardman http://www.bethanjenkinsblog.org.uk/battle-of-the-bookshops/comment-page-1#comment-3540 Matt Wardman Fri, 07 Aug 2009 17:00:40 +0000 http://www.bethanjenkinsblog.org.uk/battle-of-the-bookshops#comment-3540 There are a couple of issues on this one that concern me, in addition to my preference for independent businesses rather than £ multimillion chains. One point is that if a secondhand bookshop is operating, it will be paying - say - £10k of business rates to the Council. If an Oxfam bookshop arrives, and the indie shop closes, everything else being equal that will be £8k at least of income lost to the local community from the mandatory business rate discount, never mind the staff wages and any other reduced charges etc. There will also be the tax lost on profits to the Exchequer. That substitution occurs is not really in question (despite the Oxfam spokespeople taking the debate in different directions). Perhaps ask the council how much it costs them in lost revenue having a large charity bookshop rather than a commercial outlet in town. You can probably say better than me what they could do with the £10k or £30k or whatever it is. I think the first thing I would like to see is more information out there, so that there can be a better debate. My piece: http://www.mattwardman.com/blog/2009/08/07/oxfam-books-ltd-looking-at-large-charity-corporations/ There are a couple of issues on this one that concern me, in addition to my preference for independent businesses rather than £ multimillion chains.

One point is that if a secondhand bookshop is operating, it will be paying – say – £10k of business rates to the Council.

If an Oxfam bookshop arrives, and the indie shop closes, everything else being equal that will be £8k at least of income lost to the local community from the mandatory business rate discount, never mind the staff wages and any other reduced charges etc.

There will also be the tax lost on profits to the Exchequer.

That substitution occurs is not really in question (despite the Oxfam spokespeople taking the debate in different directions).

Perhaps ask the council how much it costs them in lost revenue having a large charity bookshop rather than a commercial outlet in town. You can probably say better than me what they could do with the £10k or £30k or whatever it is.

I think the first thing I would like to see is more information out there, so that there can be a better debate.

My piece:

http://www.mattwardman.com/blog/2009/08/07/oxfam-books-ltd-looking-at-large-charity-corporations/

]]> By: valleysmam http://www.bethanjenkinsblog.org.uk/battle-of-the-bookshops/comment-page-1#comment-3538 valleysmam Thu, 06 Aug 2009 09:53:04 +0000 http://www.bethanjenkinsblog.org.uk/battle-of-the-bookshops#comment-3538 problem with Oxfam is how they are trading. If its under their charity arm then they have to be very careful in the way they do it Displacement of trade comes into play, if you have charitable funds then you cannot displace an existing business that doesn't. Why ,easy ,its an unfair advantage. Charities were not set up to be trading entities .If they set up arms length social business that cede their profit to the charity then that's ok, but displacement still counts. The law is very strict on this. problem with Oxfam is how they are trading. If its under their charity arm then they have to be very careful in the way they do it
Displacement of trade comes into play, if you have charitable funds then you cannot displace an existing business that doesn’t. Why ,easy ,its an unfair advantage.
Charities were not set up to be trading entities .If they set up arms length social business that cede their profit to the charity then that’s ok, but displacement still counts.
The law is very strict on this.

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