Coun Scriven did his by now predictable rubbishing of the council (which he is supposedly leading) but, my interest was drawn to the 'case study' of the Arundel Gate deli, 'Hello Deli', which the Federation of Small Businesses is holding up as a prime example of the difficulties faced by their members with the local authority.

Apparently, the owner, who is running a hot food takeaway, doesn't want to pay for his bins to be emptied, or to have to put them away where they don't block the pavement.

He wants to be able to park on double yellows and to pump unrestricted cooking fumes into a street which he shares with, from memory, a hotel and a medical clinic. And the council, in its various forms, is making him do all these things.

Well, if I was a neighbour of Mr Pternitis, I think I would actually be very keen that the council made sure all these rules were followed, because they are about protecting the safety and living conditions of the rest of us!

The council and local politicians should certainly encourage and support local and small businesses, and make processes as simple as possible, but not by putting them above the law or disregarding the rights of other citizens.

Perhaps a little more thought and a little less grandstanding would be in order from Coun Scriven?

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