DO YOU RUN A BUSINESS IN NORTHAMPTON? Do you ever have to phone Trading Standards to ask their advice? Well if you do in future, expect a hefty bill.

The Conservative-led County Council has decided to charge business customers £58 an hour for advice. The Liberal Democrats askes them to reconsider. So did the Federation of Small Businesses.

Clearly things are tight and cuts have to be made. However, if, as a result of this, businesses do things that they shouldn’t because they can’t afford to ask for expert help, the cost to the council of dealing with this is likely to be more than the savings.

To contact Trading Standards see link on the right under local services.