Tag: Adur and Worthing Borough Council

The press release issued by Adur and Worthing Borough Council on 14 October 2022.

Businesses that legally avoid paying tax could be banned from winning Council contracts if the Government changed the rules, a report argues.

A motion to be discussed by Worthing Borough Council calls on the Government to help it combat corporate tax avoidance and stamp out corruption in business by lifting local authority purchasing restrictions.

Data from the Institute for Business Ethics suggests that since 2013, corporate tax avoidance has been the top concern of the British public when it comes to business conduct.

Although current government rules allow councils to exclude supplier businesses for proven tax offences, the grounds for exclusion are fairly narrow and, in reality, rarely come into practice. The current restrictions also prevent the Council from specifying “responsible tax conduct” as a criteria which a business must meet to be awarded a contract.

In response to these concerns, the Council will next week consider a fair tax motion involving an appeal to the Government to strengthen efforts to combat corporate tax avoidance, ensure fair competition for UK businesses small and large, and bolster efforts to drive out corruption.

If agreed, the motion would also see the Council ask the Government for the power to require potential suppliers to prove they are of “responsible tax conduct” before they consider awarding them contracts. The Council would also be better able to refuse to engage in off-shore dealings when buying land and property, and could take action to ensure its contractors are paying tax properly.

Cllr Jon Roser, who is proposing the motion, said:

“Paying tax is often talked about as if it’s a burden – and it really shouldn’t be. Taxation helps to fund an array of vital public services, from education, health and social care to policing and defence. It helps to counter inequalities, and finances public spaces that everyone can benefit from.

“Looking to the current cost of living crisis, it’s more significant than ever that we hold businesses to account and ensure that they’re paying their fair share. As a Council we should be leading by example, committing to transparency in our own taxes whilst calling on the Government to help us take action and ensure that businesses are acting fairly.”

The fair tax motion will be proposed at a meeting of Worthing’s Full Council on Tuesday (18th October 2022).

The press release issued by  on 7 October 2022.

Residents in Adur and Worthing could have more involvement in decision-making if councillors agree to modernise the Councils’ constitutions.

Adur & Worthing Councils want to be more transparent while carrying out their duties, as well as improving participation, efficiency and accountability to bring democracy closer to the heart of the community.

As part of the overhaul, the Councils want to cut the 600-page constitution to a document of about 400 pages, making it easier to access, as well as being clearer and more user-friendly.

New rules would make it easier for the public to raise any concerns or issues by cutting red tape, while the time for questions would be extended and a new public interest test would be introduced when deciding whether matters are exempt from publication.

Councillors would also be given more powers to challenge and refer matters to full council meetings for review, while the length of meetings would be reduced.

The proposed changes will be considered by the Joint Strategic Committee of the Councils on 11th October 2022.

Cllr Neil Parkin, the Leader of Adur District Council, said:

“It is absolutely vital that the Councils are transparent in everything that we do, and answerable to the public.

“We believe these changes will help by making it easier to see exactly how we make decisions, what we do and why, so that the community can have confidence their money is being spent appropriately.”

Cllr Dr Beccy Cooper, the Leader of Worthing Borough Council, said:

“We have pledged to work with and to build closer ties with our communities – a process that has got off to a great start with our Big Listen campaign.

“Updating our constitution continues that pledge. It allows better dialogue with our local residents in our decision making arenas, increasing transparency and ensuring that we are truly accountable for the decisions we make with and on behalf of our communities.”

Under the Local Government Act 2000, every local authority is under a duty to prepare and keep its constitution up to date. The constitution must contain the standing orders and procedure rules plus a members’ code of conduct.

It must be available for inspection at all reasonable hours by members of the public and can be supplied to anyone who asks for a copy on payment of a reasonable fee.