Bournemouth Chamber of Trade & Commerce

Bournemouth Chamber of Trade and Commerce

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Author: Bournemouth Chamber of Trade & Commerce

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Operators of Furnished Holiday Lettings businesses will have been affected by restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic, but all is not necessarily lost says Saffery Champness

The pandemic has clearly impacted the UK’s tourism sector heavily, including many Furnished Holiday Let (FHL) businesses, which were forced to close for a large part of the 2020 holiday season. Even following reopening, stringent cleaning requirements and social distancing regulations meant increased costs, longer turnaround times and reduced capacity for those businesses

As a result, many properties have failed to meet the FHL criteria over that period. To qualify for the FHL treatment in a tax year, a property must:

·      Be available for commercial letting as holiday accommodation to the general public for 210 days in the year
·      Be actually let commercially as holiday accommodation to the general public for at least 105 days in the year (excluding periods of longer-term occupation, ie continuous periods of more than 31 days), and
·      Not be let for periods of longer-term occupation (continuous periods of more than 31 days) for more than 155 days per year.

The above tests will generally apply to a tax year, unless it is the first or last year of letting.

Tax Director, Ian Harlock-Smith, Saffery Champness said:
“There are several differences between FHLs and standard residential lettings, including the fact that FHLs are treated as a trade. The provision of the holiday accommodation is subject to VAT and plant and machinery capital allowances can be claimed on furniture, fixtures and white goods in the property. Profits from FHLs also qualify as earnings for pension contribution purposes and the restrictions on deductibility of finance costs for tax purposes, that apply to residential landlords, do not apply to FHL businesses, so owners get full tax relief on any mortgage interest.
“In addition, Capital Gains Tax (CGT) reliefs such as Business Asset Rollover Relief, Business Asset Disposal Relief (formerly Entrepreneurs’ Relief) and relief for gifts of business assets also apply to FHLs.
“Where a property business no longer qualifies as an FHL, these benefits will no longer apply.”
Where more than one FHL is let, an averaging election can be made. This is useful where some but not all properties have met the letting condition. The number of days let is averaged across the portfolio of properties let as FHLs and can result in all properties then qualifying.

Similarly, where a property has not been let for 105 days or more in the year, a ’period of grace’ election can be made. This allows the property to qualify as an FHL by deeming the let days condition to have been met, so long as all other FHL conditions were met for the year. It must be demonstrated that there was a genuine intention to let the property in the year. The HMRC guidance includes cancellation due to unforeseen circumstances, for example closures due to the lockdown restrictions, as an acceptable reason for not meeting the letting condition. To qualify for the period of grace election, the property must have met the letting condition in the previous year. The period of grace election can be made for up to two consecutive years, so for both 2020-21 and 2021-22 if necessary, which could be useful if the business did or does not recover quickly.

However, if the property does not qualify as an FHL after two consecutive period of grace elections, it will cease to qualify as an FHL thereafter, until it meets the conditions again.

It is also possible to combine both the period of grace and averaging elections to ensure a property continues to qualify as an FHL. Ian Harlock-Smith concludes:
“Due to reduced turnover and increased costs, many FHL businesses may have made a net tax loss in 2020-21. This loss can only be carried forward and offset against future profits from the FHL business and cannot be offset against other income or other UK property business profits.
“However, where the FHL did not meet the qualifying criteria for 2020-21, for example, and neither a period of grace nor averaging election is made, losses incurred in 2020-21 will be treated as regular UK property business losses.”

 
About Saffery Champness LLP
Saffery Champness LLP is a firm of chartered accountants that advises individuals and families, not-for-profit organisations and businesses across a range of sectors. As a member of Nexia International, it is part of a worldwide network of independent accounting and consulting firms.
For over 160 years, the firm’s success has been founded upon providing clients with a genuinely partner-led service and working with them to create bespoke solutions that help them to achieve their personal and business objectives. For more information visit www.saffery.com or see Twitter @Safferys

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What a great night of BH Banter!

Mulled wine and mince pies went down well at BH Banter at the Ocean Beach Hotel yesterday. We had a fantastic turnout last night and our guest speaker Richard Burn from Dorset Growth Hub wasn’t able to make it in person, but with the powers of technology, he was able to give us an update on “Grants for local business” via Zoom!
Three new members came along and received their members’ certificate –
Be sure to look out for confirmation of the February BH Banter event.
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Letter from David Sidwick, Police & Crime Commissioner for Dorset

1 December 2021

Dear colleague,

Firstly, I would like to thank those of you who provided feedback on the frequency of these letters. Most of the feedback said that you would like to receive a monthly letter to update you on what’s been happening here at the Office – so, here is my first monthly PCC letter to you all.

Coincidentally, it’s been a month since I emailed you about the launch of my Police and Crime Plan and it has certainly been a busy month of progress on that front. This month has seen three national weeks of action: Safer Gambling Week, Alcohol Awareness Week and 16 Days of Action all of which link to the priorities in my plan.

As joint APCC lead for Addictions and Substance Misuse Portfolio, I am pleased to be able to highlight the work I am doing in securing a regional joined-up approach on drug dealing, substance misuse and gambling addiction, so that the entire South West works together to reduce this risk. There are also some quick-time positive actions that can be made to tackle problem gambling. For example, my office is working with Dorset Police Custody and the Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion service to identify and monitor how many detainees have a gambling addiction – which hasn’t been done before. This will help give some much-needed information about the size of the problem in our county.

My blog addressing the issue of violence against women and girls highlights a lot of the work that is happening behind the scenes, including taking the very practical action of funding the purchase of over 1000 drink spiking testing kits, which will be made available in key locations, including hospitals, police stations and nightclubs across Dorset as well as almost 14,000 ‘stop-tops’ and ‘bottle-top spikes’, to help prevent drinks from being ‘spiked’.

A couple of weeks ago, I held the first Business Crime roundtable alongside Inspector Helen Deakin, the strategic business crime lead for Dorset Police, and we spoke with twenty representatives of national groups and local businesses to start the process of creating a Dorset Safer Business Partnership.

I also held the first Rural Crime roundtable where I got to discuss a range of rural crime issues with the Rural Crime Team, the Environment Agency, local authorities, insurance companies as well the National Farmers Union.

November has also seen me witness a warrant being executed on a shop in Boscombe, where thousands of pounds worth of illegal cigarettes and tobacco were seized together with a large amount of cash and suspected cannabis. It was a great example of partnership working in action; to see police officers working alongside our partner agencies was not only inspiring, but very encouraging when I consider the pledge I have made to make Dorset the Safest County in England and Wales.

Kind regards

David Sidwick
Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner

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Lewis-Manning Hospice Care’s Christmas tree collection and recycling service is back by popular demand, and backed by Patron Harry Redknapp

Lewis-Manning Hospice Care has launched its Christmas tree collection service and is backed by Patron Harry Redknapp and supported by local estate agents Leader Fox. The successful and popular service is in its 4th year and the community are urged to support the hospice once again by registering for their real Christmas tree collection online.

All Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch postcodes are covered, from BH1 – BH23, and collections will take place between 8th – 14th January 2022.

Area Fundraiser Ruth Wright advised, “Remember to book early as there are only a set number of places available, so please register your tree today to ensure you’re not left with a car boot full of needles and twigs! Bookings close on 8th January 2022.

“We are delighted to be able to help the local community again, as well as doing our bit for the environment by running the Christmas tree collection service. Registration online is simple, make a donation to Lewis-Manning Hospice Care on our website and then leave your tree outside the front of your home on the day of collection and we will take care of the rest!”

Lewis-Manning Patron Harry Redknapp said, “Sarn and I know what we’re doing with our Christmas tree this year thanks to Lewis-Manning. I hope lots of other people in the local community also make a donation for their tree to be collected too! They’re such a worthy cause that help so many people in Dorset.  It’s fantastic to know that after Boxing Day we don’t have to worry about what to do with the tree.”

Leader Fox Estate Agents, Director, Katie Fox said, “When we were approached by Lewis-Manning to support this fantastic campaign it was an immediate YES. Not only was it about raising money to aid this wonderful charity but we loved that it was community based, which is where as a business our hearts lie. The Leader Fox team cannot wait to be part of it and working alongside the amazing guys at Lewis-Manning Hospice Care.”

Ruth continued, “We are also very kindly supported by Eco Sustainable Solutions who will be recycling all the trees that we collect and many other local businesses who have offered their help and support again this year.”

To register your tree for collection, visit https://lewis-manning.org.uk/christmas-tree-collection/  and make a real difference to someone’s life in your local community.

About Lewis-Manning Hospice Care
Lewis-Manning Hospice Care is a charity established 29 years ago, providing extraordinary care to patients and their families facing a life-limiting illness across Poole, Purbeck and East Dorset. We offer a range of free hospice care services aimed at helping people to live well through their illness, closer to home.
These include:
– Day hospices, virtual and in person
– Creative arts & wellbeing support
– Lymphoedema clinic for cancer patients
– Better breathing clinic
– Bereavement & Family Support
Every year we support nearly 500 local people and we develop new services, based on patient need and identified gaps in the area.
To do this we need to raise over £1.6m every year. Without these funds we could not exist.
Our important work increases people’s physical and social well-being, reduces isolation and loneliness, supports people to stay in their homes longer, and alleviates the huge pressures on family and carers.

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Facebook Live – Transforming Cities Fund programme and improving your health with active travel

Want to ask us questions about our Transforming Cities Fund programme? Or find out how to improve your health through active travel? Join Councillors Drew Mellor and Mike Greene as well as Programme Manager Marc Griffin and Assistant Director of Public Health at Public Health Dorset, Rachel Partridge.
Join us on Facebook at 1pm on Wednesday 1st December 2021.

Click here for more information and set a reminder. 

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Investigation underway after Avian Influenza outbreak in Southbourne

MESSAGE FROM BCP COUNCIL

An outbreak of Avian Influenza has been confirmed at a premises in Southbourne. The area is currently undergoing testing to find out more information about the strain.

Trading Standards Officers from BCP Council are working alongside officers from the Government’s Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA) with measures to prevent the spread of the disease. These measures include a cull of the birds who pose a direct risk, as well as further investigation over the weekend into premises in the area who are breeding or keeping birds.

Please be advised that a 3km Temporary Control Zone has been constructed around an area centred on Castlemain Avenue at this time with regard to animal movements. APHA and BCP Council officers will be knocking on doors in the zone from tomorrow to check for potential further cases. Please note that these officers will be carrying ID.

Peter Haikin, Regulatory Services Manager said: “Avian Influenza predominantly affects only birds and is not considered to be an illness which poses a risk to the general public”.

All bird keepers in Great Britain are now required by law to undergo certain biosecurity procedures following an outbreak of Avian Flu being declared to help prevent further spread.

Cleanliness is an important defence against the spread of Avian Influenza, requiring clean footwear and regular cleaning of hard surfaces. When feeding and watering your bird(s), you should ensure that these resources are enclosed in areas which wild birds cannot access. In general, your bird(s) should be kept away from wild birds and wild waterfowl with adequate fencing in outdoor areas.

For more information about Avian Influenza and biosecurity, we recommend visiting: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-bird-flu

Also see our Birdflu FAQs

If you have reason to believe that your bird(s) have contracted Avian Influenza, you must contact the Defra Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200 301.

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Lest We Forget

‘In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.’
– John McCrae

Bournemouth Commemoration this Sunday 14 November.
Bournemouth’s Annual Service of Remembrance and Parade will take place at the War Memorial in the Central Gardens. The commemoration will be attended by the Mayor of Bournemouth, Councillor David Kelsey, and the Bournemouth Charter Trustees and Civic Dignitaries.
The parade will be led by The Salvation Army Band who will play the bugle alongside the Field Gun Display Team to mark the start and end of the two-minute silence.
The Service commences at 10:55am and will be led by Reverend Dr Ian Terry, with music provided by the Salvation Army Boscombe Band and the Bournemouth Combined Cadet Force Band.

Please be advised that Braidley Road, Bourne Avenue and Avenue Road will be closed to vehicle access from 9:00am until 1:00pm.

Photo: Chris Sansbury, Unleash

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Free training course from our friends at Christchurch Chamber

Christchurch Chamber’s final free course until the New Year is about how you can use Skills Support for the Workforce with fully funded training for apprentices on the morning of Tuesday, 16th November.

This will be held at Captain’s Club Hotel at Wick Ferry, Christchurch, and will be free of charge, including refreshments, to you or any of your staff who you would like to attend.

The course is called Apprenticeships – Benefits to the Employer and Recruitment Solutions – Fully Funded Training to Support Your Business

– Skills Support for the Workforce  on Tuesday 16th November from 0930 to 1230

Investing in individuals and teams has never been more important. Providing training which supports your Learning and Development strategy, can show a true investment. Locomotivation can assist with Fully Funded training, Employer Incentive Grants of up to £3,000 and more, through Apprenticeships and the Skills Support for the Workforce programme. This course discusses the training opportunities and support that is available for employers and employees. The course will include:

  • Apprenticeships – benefits to the employer; Recruitment solutions, Incentive Grants
  • Fully Funded training available through the Skills Support for the Workforce
  • Accredited qualifications in Hospitality, Leisure, Retail, Business Admin, Team Leading, and more.
  • Bespoke skills training designed to meet specific needs
  • Redundancy support – employability packages for people ‘at risk of redundancy’ or have been made redundant within the last 3 months.

This course will be provided by Locomotivation, the dynamic and forward-thinking local training company with the industry experience to help businesses achieve their staff development needs.  They are experts at slicing through the red tape with their clear and practical approach to staff development. All their staff are professionally qualified to deliver National Occupational Standards and are accredited by the key professional bodies and have just received their fourth Grade 2 Good Ofsted report in a row plus have held the Matrix Accreditation since 2011.

If you are interested in attending or sending some of your staff along, then please email Sue at sueharmonsmith@gmail.com as soon as possible.  There is a maximum of 12 attendees and is very much first-come-first-served!