Is This The End For Chiswick's Cafe Culture?

As Hounslow Council plans higher charges for al fresco dining

Cafes in Chiswick are facing higher charges for having tables and chairs on the pavement as Hounslow Council ramps up its licence fees. Some owners have expressed fears it could be the end of Chiswick's 'cafe society'.

The new charges will also apply to those with advertising hoardings or signs placed outside their shops.

The Council sent letters to businesses last week as part of a consultation on higher charges, with plans for the licence to increase by around 25%. The total cost to the Council of operating street trading licensing is £176,532 per annum but its revenue was £103,470 so in 2015/2016 it made a £73,062 loss. The proposed increased charges would raise about £30,000.

Businesses are also being faced with a huge increase in rates, and cafes say the extra charges for street furniture are a double whammy to local independents already trying to compete with the larger chains.

The annual licence fee proposed is £132.00 per square metre or part thereof plus an application fee of £110. For temporary traders and stall holders there is a six month licence available at £66 per square metre.

Chiswick is famous for its abundance of cafes and restaurants along its High Road.

Ironically for Devonshire Road, which has a high proportion of independent traders, the increases for outside tables will only apply to those on one side of the street.

The picture shows the division in the pavement

Cafes such as Urban Pantry, and Tamp, as well as La Trompette, are exempt under an bye-law which allows a section of pavement to be considered part of their property and thus comes under their rent. The area is designated by a division in the pavement.

However cafes across the street, will be hit by the increased licence fee. It currently costs over £100 a year to have an advertising placard outside a shop.

In their letter to local businesses, the Council outlined that it was facing a shortfall and gave details of the salaries of staff and how much it cost to process applications. A Licensing Processing Officer on a salary of £26,461 would spend 50% of his/her time on street trading matters for example, the 'on costs' would be £7,700 and the total cost would be £17,120.

The letter estimated that taking in account time spent on street trading matters, the overall cost of staff (processing, enforcing and management) was estimated at £48,532.

Hounslow Council has a contract with Hounslow Highways to enforce street trading infringements, with seven officers employed, which costs the Council £128,000 per annum.

January 17, 2017