Councils should learn from small private companies about cutting costs during a recession, according to a business chief. David Frost, director-general of the British Chambers of Commerce, told The MJ in an interview: ‘What I've seen from among our members is their speed of reaction to the downturn, such as pay freezes and innovative ways of cutting their employee costs. There are lessons here for local authorities.' He also reiterated his opposition to any localisation of business rate or supplementary business rate, adding: ‘Business isn't just a cash cow.' But he praised local authorities for helping local firms during the downturn, saying both sectors shared a commitment to their place. Mr Frost was speaking ahead of next week's annual BCC conference in Birmingham, whose guest speakers are Kenneth Clarke and Baroness Vadera.
