Mayor: South Yorkshire's high streets need "level playing field" with online shops
We've been putting your questions to Dan Jarvis in our exclusive #LeadersInLockdown interview
Last updated 18th Mar 2021
WATCH: Dan Jarvis answers your questions in our exclusive #LeadersInLockdown interview from 7pm on Thursday 18th March.
South Yorkshire's metro mayor's calling for a "level playing field" for our county's high streets as they compete with online retailers.
Dan Jarvis has called for the government to look as taxation for big web companies, and revealed he's in talks with councils about lowering business rates for struggling shops.
We've been putting your questions to him as part of our exclusive #LeadersinLockdown interview.
Adele from Sheffield asked him about support for independent shops and whether their business rates should be lowered to help them bounce back from Covid.
Dan responded:
"Adele makes a really useful suggestion about business rates. That's a conversation that I'm having with our local council leaders to look at what more they can do to support local businesses who've really struggled.
"I also think though there's an important question for national government to make sure they level the playing field in a taxation sense."
He says he thinks the way retailers are taxed is "outdated" with the rise of online shopping.
Dan says the government should look at what they can do:
"You've got international companies who are able to trade and are able to draw upon huge resource to avoid paying tax in countries where they do their business. And that's impossible for smaller independent retailers to compete against. So I think there needs to be that level playing field.
"It's outdated in the sense that these massive global retailers are able to reach into people's living rooms and make it incredibly easy for people to do their shopping in that way. For all of us who believe in the importance of the high street, we've got to take steps to make sure they are able to trade on a level playing field.
"Some of that is about national taxation and it's about making sure that national government ensures that national playing field. But at a local and regional level we're also doing all we can - the Renewal Fund that we've set up will invest millions and millions of pounds in our urban centres here in South Yorkshire."
We put your questions to Dan about the high street, mental health, climate change, his role as mayor and many more subjects.
You can watch the full #LeadersInLockdown interview at 7pm tonight here.