A CHARGE to small businesses wanting to expand or develop in Worcester could be scrapped in a bid to boost the economy.

In response to concerns charges for pre-planning application advice are holding back growth in the local economy, a leading councillor is contemplating asking officers to give their time for free when holding initial discussions with small businesses about a proposal.

Since last year householders, developers and companies have been charged for pre-planning advice as applicants who tend to hold such meetings with officers tend to have more chance of gaining permission for their schemes as any problems can be ironed out at an early stage.

As a result a business of any size and stature currently has to pay £153 for pre-planning advice about changing the use of a unit or building in Worcester. But with the council looking set to get a bit more income from this money-making venture, which is still being trialled, than originally anticipated – about £30,000 – Councillor Marc Bayliss, cabinet member for economic prosperity, has indicated he would like to see that waived.

At a meeting of the city council’s performance management and budget scrutiny meeting Coun Bayliss said: “At the moment some small businesses are being asked to pay a small fee to provide a certain amount of advice and I would ask as part of a review to reflect on the feedback and see if there is any policy in the future that might offer a certain amount of free advice to small businesses to make sure nobody is put off.”

That was after Councillor Alan Amos said he knew of at least one small businessman who had been deterred by the charge.

“I don’t know why officers should be charging,” he said.

Coun Bayliss said while businesses have not indicated to him that the pre-planning application charges are a major issue he did not want them to be a deterrent.

However, he said large organisations proposing complex schemes will still be expected to pay for advice and added: “When people have paid fees it has given value for money.”