LIZ CAMERON
It is understandable that the much of the focus of the political and media world will be on Brexit this year, with the countdown set to begin towards our new future relationship with the other nations of our continent. However, that journey, which is so important to Scottish business, must not dominate our thoughts to the exclusion of all else.
In 2017, there is much more besides that businesses in Scotland will be focusing on. The Scottish Government has launched the first major review of Scotland’s planning system in more than a decade. The business-friendliness of our planning system is a key factor in Scotland’s future economic success, with the potential to enable our businesses to grow and prosper. The planning system must help developments to take place quickly to ensure that the maximum possible investment can be channelled into the Scottish economy, delivering what we need, when we need it. We view planning as a key component of Scotland’s business support infrastructure and this marks a golden opportunity to get our system right.
This year will also see the publication of the results of a major independent review of Scotland’s business rates regime. This long awaited report will come at an opportune moment, following the latest business rates revaluation in Scotland, which is already threatening many businesses with significant increases in their rates bills come April. It is time that Scotland used its devolved powers to radically reform our arcane system of business rates and turned it into a modern, fair tax that is responsive to changes in our economy and this year we will have the chance to achieve just that.
These are not the only important domestic issues for businesses in Scotland this year. There is also the ongoing Enterprise and Sills Review and the review of Scotland’s National Transport Strategy, to name but two, and, of course, May’s local authority elections will determine local economic development priorities for the next five years.
If anyone thinks that Brexit is the only issue facing Scottish business right now, then think again. Yes, its impact goes well beyond those businesses currently trading within the Single Market and it will be vital that negotiations over the next two years are successful in delivering the right result for the Scottish economy. However, if we allow ourselves to be drawn into tunnel vision on Europe, we run the risk of missing the chance to transform Scotland’s attractiveness as a place to do business.
Liz Cameron is chief executive of Scottish Chambers of Commerce
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