AND on the theme of council finances, it seems Cherwell District Council is doing pretty much all it can to help businesses with its offer to partially waive parking charges over the Christmas period.

Some retailers want three hours free parking throughout the year but the council says it just can’t afford that. Instead it will not charge motorists on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays between December 1 and January 7.

Times are tough but funds don’t appear by magic. Cherwell took £1.8m in parking revenue in 2011-12 and if it was to accede to the retailers’ requests, would those shops then be happy to make up that shortfall through higher business rates?