CONFORM LIKE CATTLE OR BE BRANDED AN IDIOT

By stuckntree on Pilgrim Street, Liverpool.

Not a Biennial piece. It was commissioned by the shop that operates out of that building, but cool nevertheless.

Right, that's the fun bit over. What follows is the important bit.

One of the problems facing the survival of Static is Liverpool City Council's decision that it is no longer eligible for business rates relief because the proper planning permission is not in place for some or all of its activities. As I said yesterday, the cause and effect in their case is not clear, at least from where I'm sitting.

I'm generally positive about Liverpool City Council and its support for the arts. When it does good things, then I'll say as much - often here on blipfoto. Normally, I'll ignore the less clever ideas and simply put it down to bureaucracy and the fact that committees aren't very good at designing things. Anyway, this isn't a political journal and mostly my audience isn't interested. Ranting, after all, is not normally attractive; it just looks like attention seeking.

This one is different. On the corner of Slater Street and Seel Street is Mello Mello - a pretty cool cafe, bar, meeting space, gig venue and other things that people do when they want to get together. It's not a smart building, but it's occupied which is more than can be said for a number of buildings in the immediate vicinity. It's run as a not for profit venture and it employs about 20 people. It receives no aid, council or state funding of any description. It relies on doing what it does well and the fact that people think it's a cool place to hang out. Its not for profit status has meant that it received an 80% rebate on it's business rates. That's the only help it gets.

Today, Liverpool City Council has told Mello Mello that it will no longer be eligible for rates relief because it is "not being aligned to the current high priorities of the City Council". That means it will have to pay full business rates; a further £30,000 a year that it will need to find if it is to survive.

Yup, you read that right. Not being aligned to the current high priorities of the City Council. What the fuck is that supposed to mean? Liverpool City Council says it prides itself that Liverpool is a vibrant city and a heavy hitter when it comes to arts and culture. Those are words and these are deeds and they don't match. With the highest marks for making no sense at all, LCC is kicking a vibrant community right in the nuts. And it hurts.

Where is the logic that says support for a business that employs 20 people, puts on gigs, pays rates and taxes and is generally A Good Thing is better than squeezing it so hard it dies? I don't understand. It makes my brain hurt really quite a lot.

I could go on. I won't though. But, please, if you have the inclination, sign the petition. The news only broke this afternoon and already there are more than 2,000 signatures. They need as much help as they can get. So do we all.