THE Federation of Small Businesses, which has a branch in Salisbury, is calling on all candidates in next month's district council elections to keep small businesses at the forefront of their policy and manifesto planning.

The FSB has reminded councils that 12 million people are employed by small firms and their taxes fund local authority activity and maintain vibrant high streets across the country.

It has also published a manifesto for the elections outlining how decisions at local level affect small businesses and the self-employed, who, it says, make up 58 per cent of the private-sector workforce and produce 50 per cent of UK GDP. FSB local government chairman Roger Culcheth said: "Decisions taken by local authorities have a direct impact on everybody's lives, including the livelihoods of small business owners and their employees.

"In some areas, businesses and local authorities have a close and effective relationship, but, in others, small employers are treated as silent taxpayers with little voice in the future of their community. Our manifesto will ensure candidates from all parties get the message that thriving small businesses are vital to local communities."

The FSB wants to see greater promotion of small-business rate relief, more local authority contracts for small businesses, affordable town centre parking, a faster planning process and more consultation.