Small businesses blame States rivalry for red tape

Tuesday 4th August 2009, 2:59PM BST.

David Warr, chair of the Jersey Chamber of Commerce small business group.

SMALL businesses are calling for a wholesale review of the way the States services are managed.

They say that charges vary from department to department, for no apparent reason, and that decisions are taking longer than necessary because departments are not communicating with each other.

David Warr, who chairs the Jersey Chamber of Commerce small business group, says that although a substantial amount of regulatory red tape is essential to run public services, the ‘real’ red tape problems are ‘much more subtle’.

Writing in the Chamber newsletter Mr Warr cites several instances where such problems are hampering businesses. He says the most common complaints from members relate to planning applications, in particular Planning and Building Control ‘inter-departmental rivalry’ coupled with Fire Services demands.

• See Tuesday’s JEP for full story and more business news.

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