If there is one subject that acts like a red rag to a bull where small traders are concerned, it is local councils' policies of collecting business rates (and council tax, too, on residential lets, come to that) on empty properties.

I have never seen anyone move so fast, for instance, as a friend of mine who the other day learned that a man from the council had turned up to see whether a shop unit, which he was unable to let thanks to the economic downturn, really was empty.

Inwardly scowling, he acted like greased lightning, clearing away the odd items of stock that had found their way into the unit, before appearing with a smile on his face to show the inspector around.

That particular trader, who shall remain nameless for obvious reasons, wanted to know what Oxford City Council does about its own empty properties.

I asked the council on his behalf — and was told that the council has 15 properties empty at the moment and that, yes, it does have to pay business rates on them like anyone else.

Under the rules, introduced in April this year, empty business properties are exempt from business rates for three months only — unless for a specific reason (see panel).

But chairman of the Oxfordshire Federation of Small Businesses, Barry Wheatley, maintains that attacking the local councils over the empty property issue anyway is to hit the wrong target.

He said: "Oxfordshire councils want to be helpful and sympathetic in these difficult times, but their hands are tied by central government.

"It is Government legislation that needs to change, and however hard we lobby the councils it won't make any difference."

The irony here is that many members of the OFSB were initially in favour of making businesses pay rates on empty properties, arguing that too many large high street multiples were buying up buildings — and then boarding them up while they waited for properties next door to become available for redevelopment, thereby blighting whole streets.

Mr Wheatley said: "I even remember shops in George Street, Oxford, being boarded up."

But he added that the Government had then seen a "revenue-raising wheeze" in all this and taken full advantage of it.

The revenue from business rates is huge.

For example, if a pub closes down and becomes a private home, thereby ceasing to pay business rates and instead paying council tax, the Government will lose out big time.

"All the more reason," said Mr Wheatley, "for councils to support businesses."

He added that he knew of some business people who had actually pulled buildings down rather than pay business rates on empty property that they could not let out.

Many may have seen the pile of rubble, once an office block, on the A40. Alongside it is a notice reading: "No business rates on this one Mr Brown."

He said: "It is pretty well impossible at the moment to find a tenant for business premises in just three months.

"Now everyone is saying that they want to help the small business sector — but the Government could, at a stroke, help out by changing the rules on empty properties."

No one likes admitting that their enterprise is in trouble, but suddenly the plight of the small business operator is in the spotlight.

Squeals of anguish are becoming louder as recession looms, and councils everywhere are busy saying how much they want to help the small trader.

Last week, we heard first that the House of Commons all-party small shops group had estimated that there would be few independent shops left by 2015.

Then we heard the Federation of Small Businesses was calling for help from councils — asking them to pay their bills more quickly in these credit crunch times. And here we have some good news for our own local councils: Mr Wheatley said that Oxfordshire councils were, by and large, supportive.

The Oxford Times contacted all the councils and discovered no lack of will to help.

Simon Hoare, West Oxfordshire cabinet member for finance said: "West Oxfordshire District Council has a long track record of paying for its goods and services quickly, and the average payment is within 20 days. We will continue to ensure that our payments are made as soon as possible, as it is our policy to support our suppliers."

And Oxford City Council spokesman, Annette Cunningham, said: "Oxford City Council is in frequent contact with many local suppliers who make up more than 60 per cent of our total spend on supplies and services.

"Our policy is to pay all suppliers within 30 days, and many of our suppliers are regularly paid in less than 30 days.

"However, if we are advised by a supplier of a serious cashflow problem, we will seek to make an earlier payment."

She added that Oxford City Council would from this week onwards always ensure there was a quote from a local supplier for all work up to a value of £100,000.

At the Vale of White Horse, now merged (of a fashion) with South Oxfordshire District Council, the message was even better.

Paul Howden, revenues and benefits client manager at both the Vale and South Oxfordshire district councils, said: "As a matter of course, our managers are encouraged to pay all invoices as soon as possible after receiving them (unless, of course, they are disputed).

"On average our invoices are paid within 15 days (South) and 18 days (Vale). This average will continue to improve."

County council leader Keith Mitchell said: "The county council has very much heard calls to help small businesses during what looks like being an extended economic downturn and has already been actively considering what it can do as an authority. "We have every sympathy with small businesses and hope to be in a position to say something more definite shortly."

But when all is said and done, Mr Wheatley still reckons Oxfordshire is "better buffered" from the effects of the economic downturn than anywhere else in the country.

He said: "We have some of the best companies in the country and a knowledge-based economy. You may have a PhD for instance, but you still need your hair cut — and that money, locally generated and locally spent, filters right through the county's economy."