Shop boss hits out as sheriff officers sent in over £300 unpaid bill
Gary claims smaller firms shouldn’t have to pay BID levy
Sheriff officers have been sent to a tiny Paisley art shop in a bid to get overdue payment for a controversial business fee.
According to shopkeeper Gary Byars, the legal move against his Sunshine Gallery, in The Paisley Centre, was initiated by Renfrewshire Council on behalf of business regeneration group Paisley First after he refused to stump up the cash.
Artist Gary, 50, is determined not due to pay the £ 300 being demanded.
He explained: “For the past three years, Paisley First has been asking for a levy payment in order to improve the businesses within the Paisley First Business Improvement District.
“For me, personally, that’s £240 a year and then with interest, it has gone up to £300 for additional costs for the summary warrant.”
Gary was told sheriff officers were visiting him to price his assets, including his artwork.
He has claimed Paisley First has not been effective for businesses like his and this it why he refused to pay the levy, which is collected by Renfrewshire Council.
“I feel I have been denied many opportunities for work and local employment and to expand my business.
“Why did they not fund me to develop The Sunshine Gallery?
“The small businesses are getting forced to pay for big businesses, while it should really be the other way about.
“It’s meant to be the big businesses that are supporting us. It’s not fair that the local retailers in here have to pay for another chap’s business.”
Gary said he raised his concerns with Paisley First by letter, first of all in 2015 and got no reply.
He believes sending in the sheriff officers was unnecessary, adding: “It’s very heavy handed.”
Gary says The Sunshine Gallery, which sells paintings of behalf of artists for a cut of the sale price, does not actually make any money.
He told the Express: “The value of what’s in here right now is about £220. The gallery doesn’t make any money.
“It’s like a wee community project.”
The Sunshine Gallery was not the first business to have legal action taken against it.
Paisley First has told the Express that the council is responsible for collecting the levy fee and for instructing sheriff offices to take action.
However, the council has in turn said this is the responsibility of Paisley First.
Last year, Paisley First was accused of using ‘ Mafia’ style tactics after sheriff officers turned up at businesses in the town threatening to take away equipment and stock to recover the cash.
Firms within the town’s Business Improvement District (BID) must pay a mandatory fee to Paisley First, which aims to boost business within the town.
But many have opposed it, saying it was unfair.
Sheriff officers turned up at The Sunshine Gallery on Thursday morning and told Gary they will be back.
A spokesman for Paisley First said: “The law states that a local authority must collect the BID levy on behalf of the BID; in the case of Paisley First this is Renfrewshire Council.
“Businesses are issued with correspondence regarding any levies due on four separate occasions before Renfrewshire Council passes their account to sheriff officers and we work to assist any business who prefers to pay by instalments.
“Paisley First has also introduced an Exceptional Hardship scheme which allows us to help our members when their ability to trade has been affected by extraordinary circumstances.
“A recent levy reduction featured a case where a business had to cease trading for a number of months due to the serious illness of a family member.
“Paisley First has spoken to Mr Byars on numerous occasions in an effort to involve him directly in the work of the BID, but to no avail.”
However, a Renfrewshire Council spokesman added: “We provide a billing and recovery service for Paisley First Ltd, including annual billing and recovery cycles for late and nonpayment.
“This includes the issue of reminder and final notices and applications for summary warrant on behalf of Paisley First Ltd.
“Thereafter, Paisley First Ltd employ sheriff officers to collect warranted debt on their behalf.
“Any terms of recovery actions taken by the sheriff officers is a matter for Paisley First Ltd.”