Archive for July 22nd, 2013
Monday, July 22nd, 2013
The Government is working closely with partners, including American Express, to bring Small Business Saturday to the UK, which will be on December 7th, the busiest shopping day of the year and the Prime Minister is giving his full support to the campaign.
There are 4.8million businesses in the UK. The vast majority are small businesses, the lifeblood of the economy. Alone they account for almost half of overall employment and over a third of UK wide turnover. The Government recognises the huge importance of small businesses to the UK economy and is supporting them in a number of ways including giving up to £2000 off National Insurance for every business through the Employment Allowance.
Last month the Conservative Party launched the Supporting Small Business campaign, lead by Matthew Hancock MP who has been appointed the Conservatives’ Small Business Champion by David Cameron. Twelve Small Business Ambassadors have also been selected nationwide and will help promote and represent small businesses across the country and government. You can find out full details of the campaign here.
Monday, July 22nd, 2013
Proposals to present Watchman with the Freedom of the Borough are set to be discussed at a Full Council meeting tomorrow, Tuesday July 23, at 6pm.
Deputy Leader of the Council and Conservative Party councillor for Spital ward, Robert Pritchard, will be proposing a motion to admit LCpl Watchman V, former mascot of the Staffordshire regiment, to hold Freedom of the Borough of Tamworth, which would then pass to successive Watchman.
Councillors vote on the motion at the public meeting in the Council Chamber, Marmion House. The honour would also allow the popular Staffordshire bull terrier mascot to march through Tamworth with the Mercian Regiment, whenever it returns to the borough.
This proposal is to recognise the 130 years this role has been representing the fighting men and women of Tamworth and Staffordshire.
Watchman is the traditional mascot of Staffordshire regiments and continues to carry out numerous duties. He was also part of the flag party of the Mercian Regiment that met the Olympic Torch in the Castle Grounds last summer.
If agreed, Watchman would join the Mercian Regiment, The Defence Medical Services and Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship RFA Fort Rosalie (A385) who also hold Freedom of the Borough.
The motion, which Cllr Pritchard will propose, is as follows, “In pursuance of the provisions of Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972, the council permit the holders of the position of Watchman’s handler, Watchman and their successors to hold Honorary Freedom of the Borough of Tamworth, in recognition of the roles historic service representing the fighting men and women of Tamworth and Staffordshire.”
The Mayor of Tamworth, Cllr John Garner said, “At tomorrow’s meeting we will discuss the proposals to award the mascot of the Staffordshire Regiment, LCpl Watchman V, Freedom of the Borough of Tamworth. The mascot has served Tamworth and Staffordshire for 130 years and is a tradition treasured by soldiers of the Staffordshire Regiment, now 3 Mercian.”
Members of the public are invited to come along to the meeting.
