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OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS
ST JOHN’S NEWEST KITCHEN/BAR ATTRACTS ALL THE RIGHT FEEDBACK
BE BOWLED OVER BY LOCAL HEROES COWDREY AND GOWER Page 73
Page 60
No kidding – speeding drivers could face the shame of appearing at a court run by children By Jonathan Banks MOTORISTS caught speeding in the new St John’s 20mph zone could find themselves facing a children’s court. The option, which has been trialled in cities such as Birmingham and Manchester, is currently ‘under consideration’ according to the man behind the slow-down, Cllr Peter Oakford. Cllr Oakford, who represents St John’s ward on the Borough Council, said: “It is something we are looking at and we are in discussions with local schools on how to implement it.”
Permission However, he added there were numerous hurdles that needed to be overcome before the idea could be implemented. This includes the need for schools to canvas the opinions of parents and get their permission, as well as getting police cooperation. Cllr Oakford said it was ‘unlikely’ that these issues would be resolved before he meets Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner next week (Friday March 10) for the official launch of the 20mph zone. If local schools do sign up to the idea of children’s courts, drivers could face the option of either paying a fine and getting points on their licence or facing a grilling by the young jurors. The hope is that by facing the children the offenders will be shamed into observing the new 20mph limit zone which covers 50 roads.
FLEDGLING AUTHOR RIDES HIGH ON THE AMAZON BESTSELLING BOOKS LIST Page 74
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Wednesday, March 1, 2017
AGENCY SCOOPS AWARDS AND TALKS ABOUT ‘DIGITAL DETOX’ Page 8
Gym claims charity status INSIDE and slashes business rates TORY REBELLION
Leadership beats off bid to block Civic Complex Page 2
Meanwhile MP admits that increases facing some local companies are really ‘too sharp’ STAYING ON AIR
By Adam Hignett
Hospital radio is saved from closure threat Page 3
adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk THE ongoing furore over business rates has thrown up the stark divide between the town’s winners and losers as members of the Borough Council renew calls to devolve the tax to local authorities. Of particular concern are those businesses which the council claims ‘structure themselves’ as charities but run overtly commercial enterprises. One such organisation is the Nuffield Trust, which runs a commercial gym in Knights Way. The Times learned of the arrangement during its ongoing investigation, which started last year, into business rates. Nuffield charges £68 per month for full membership which is in line with other commercial gyms in the area. It has paid just £33,330 in rates per annum since the Trust acquired the premises from Virgin Active in 2014. This represents an 80 per cent discount, or a saving of £133,000, on the £166,500 that a company not operating through a charity structure would have been forced to pay. In addition, while some independent firms across the borough will see their rateable value more than double in April, the Knights Way premises are forecast to see no change at all on their current £335,000 valuation. Companies effectively pay the taxman just under 50p in the pound on the rateable value before other discounts, such as mandatory rate relief for charities, are taken into account.
BAN ON MOBILES
Parents welcome school’s social media trial Page 5
The council’s Chief Financial Officer, Lee Colyer, speaking to the Times said: “When I have presented to the public there is a bit of a disconnect between what people understand to be charities and those organisations that have structured themselves to be charities, such as private schools and private hospitals.
“Nuffield Health is a trading charity that reinvests all its profits” “Because the Nuffield group is regarded as a charity they then use that charitable status to acquire and run a number of private gyms and because it is run by a charity they get 80 per cent relief.” The officer added this was a prime example of why decisions over what level rates
should be set at are ‘best taken locally’. A spokesman for Nuffield Health, whose Chief Executive Steve Gray is paid a £400,000 annual salary, said the group qualifies for mandatory business rates relief ‘at all properties’ where it is in rateable occupation and delivering its charitable objectives. He added: “We can confirm that Nuffield Health therefore does receive mandatory rates relief at this [Knights Way] property.” However, the spokesman defended the arrangement, stating: “Nuffield Health is a trading charity that reinvests all its profits back into its services provided via our gyms, medical centres and hospitals. “Unlike for profit companies, Nuffield Health does not have shareholders and all
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SPORTING TIMES
Wells Ladies earn draw with league rivals Page 78