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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Call for commerce chamber action | Call for commerce chamber action |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Businesses are calling for urgent action to find a replacement for Cardiff Chamber of Commerce after it went into liquidation. | Businesses are calling for urgent action to find a replacement for Cardiff Chamber of Commerce after it went into liquidation. |
| The organisation, which supported around 1,400 firms, has announced it was unable to pay off old debts. | The organisation, which supported around 1,400 firms, has announced it was unable to pay off old debts. |
| Steven Madeley, director of St David's Shopping Centre, said a city as ambitious as Cardiff needed a chamber. | Steven Madeley, director of St David's Shopping Centre, said a city as ambitious as Cardiff needed a chamber. |
| It is understood one idea being considered is the merger of the Cardiff, Swansea and Newport chambers. | It is understood one idea being considered is the merger of the Cardiff, Swansea and Newport chambers. |
| Representatives of the three organisations are due to meet on Thursday to discuss what can be done for businesses in the region. | Representatives of the three organisations are due to meet on Thursday to discuss what can be done for businesses in the region. |
| David Russ, managing director Newport and Gwent Chamber of Commerce said it was a "sad moment" for Cardiff and Wales and they would be working hard to support businesses in the capital and the valleys. | |
| But he hoped the 1,400 business the Cardiff chamber represented would not notice much of a difference between what was happening before and after Christmas. | |
| We knew it was experiencing financial problems but we didn't think it would come to this Simon Madeley, St David's Shopping Centre | |
| Mr Russ added: "In an ideal world, I'd like to ensure that we have continuity of service if we can. | |
| "What I have today is a series of meetings to see if we can ensure that the programme that Cardiff had in place, for certainly the next two or three months, we can support so that businesses in south Wales are supported in that way." | |
| Mr Madeley said the chamber's insolvency "shocked and surprised" retailers. | Mr Madeley said the chamber's insolvency "shocked and surprised" retailers. |
| "We knew it was experiencing financial problems but we didn't think it would come to this," he said. | "We knew it was experiencing financial problems but we didn't think it would come to this," he said. |
| "The worry will increase the longer we go without a chamber of commerce." | "The worry will increase the longer we go without a chamber of commerce." |
| WHAT DOES A CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DO? It acts as a voice for its members and can raise issues for them with organisations such as the Welsh Assembly GovernmentGives businesses the opportunity to network with other firms and to growIt has a specific role with helping businesses concerned in the area of exports | |
| The chamber, which has been running for the past 140 years, was in debt to the Welsh Assembly Government after it was paid money by the former learning and skills council ELWa to which it was not entitled. | The chamber, which has been running for the past 140 years, was in debt to the Welsh Assembly Government after it was paid money by the former learning and skills council ELWa to which it was not entitled. |
| Some debt was also due to "irregular claims for payment made by former officers," said the assembly government. | Some debt was also due to "irregular claims for payment made by former officers," said the assembly government. |
| Since 2004 it has been working with the assembly government, which took over ELWa, to pay back the money. | Since 2004 it has been working with the assembly government, which took over ELWa, to pay back the money. |
| But efforts to help find funding for the chamber, by deferring the repayments, collapsed after the assembly government was told this would be considered in contravention of European state aid law. | But efforts to help find funding for the chamber, by deferring the repayments, collapsed after the assembly government was told this would be considered in contravention of European state aid law. |
| 'Dynamic and ambitious' | 'Dynamic and ambitious' |
| Mr Madeley, who is also a member of the Cardiff retail partnership, said a replacement for the chamber was needed urgently. | Mr Madeley, who is also a member of the Cardiff retail partnership, said a replacement for the chamber was needed urgently. |
| "Given the things Cardiff is trying to achieve, it shouldn't be without one," he said. | "Given the things Cardiff is trying to achieve, it shouldn't be without one," he said. |
| "I would call for a substitute as soon as possible. A city which is as dynamic and ambitious as Cardiff needs and deserves a chamber and we need to see something in the next few weeks." | "I would call for a substitute as soon as possible. A city which is as dynamic and ambitious as Cardiff needs and deserves a chamber and we need to see something in the next few weeks." |
| The British Chambers of Commerce said it would try to establish a "chamber presence" in Cardiff as soon as possible. | |
| The assembly government said it "greatly regrets the difficulties" the chamber was facing. | The assembly government said it "greatly regrets the difficulties" the chamber was facing. |