News / Street food
Coffee van owner urges council to drop plans to take slice of his profits
The owner of a popular coffee van has urged Bristol City Council to drop its plans to take a slice of his profits.
Over 20 small businesses across the city who trade from mobile spots in parks and around the harbourside face having their rent hiked from April.
The council wants to charge mobile traders between ten and 15 per cent of their annual turnover, as well as a flat ground rent fee. Mi Café Su Café, a coffee van on the Bristol and Bath Railway Path in Fishponds, warned the changes could harm the local economy.
is needed now More than ever
Income generated from mobile traders, to which the council currently charges just a flat ground rent, goes towards maintaining Bristol’s parks as well as the Harbourside. These budgets have been severely stretched in recent years due to government funding cuts.
Adam Streames has warned that charging mobile traders between 10 and 15 per cent of their annual turnover could harm the local economy
Speaking during a full council meeting on January 9, cafe owner Adam Streames said: “I’m here today to request two things: (firstly) you revoke the request for a percentage of our annual turnover.
“I already know, because I’ve completed the inappropriate request for my profit and loss spreadsheet, that I can’t afford to give any percentage away.
“And two, your consideration should be given to existing concessions and whether they wish to continue trading at the location where they might have spent years building a customer base and serving their community, rather than having to go through a complicated bidding process costing all parties time and money.
“Failure to do this could affect not only mine and other small independent businesses, but also our local suppliers and the local economy. My business, while always affected by weather, always provides a welcoming haven to those from all backgrounds and caters for all their individual needs, be it physically, mentally, socially or dietary.”
Almost 1,000 people have now signed a petition urging the council to drop its plans to take a percentage of turnover from mobile park traders. The plans would see new contracts drawn up, starting in April and lasting three years. They were signed off by the cabinet last July.
A cabinet report said: “The income generated from these concessions supports the ongoing maintenance and management of the city’s parks and harbourside.
“We are optimistic the upcoming round of concessions will yield increased income for parks and the harbourside. Concession pitches operating in parks bring in much-needed revenue for the council.”
Alex Seabrook is a local democracy reporter for Bristol
All photos: Ellie Pipe
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