A LEADING councillor’s claim that small businesses must ‘ramp up their game’ has prompted anger.

Local businesses were criticised by Cllr Terry Wheeler during a town hall debate on the authority’s response to the economic downturn.

Unveiling a series of measures aimed at stimulating the local economy, he said: "We have a business community here which is underachieving. What we are keen to see is that they ramp up their game."

The comments have been interpreted as implying that small businesses are not working enough to combat the recession were met with furious response from opposition members.

Cllr Andrew Hemsted said: "We think its disgusting. In these hardened times brought about by Labour for someone who does not exactly seem to realise what the business community needs is arrogant. The hubris of the man is amazing."

And his sentiments were shared by Neil Spanjar, owner of the restaurant The Room in Station Road, Chingford. He said: “I find Cllr Wheeler's comments a bit patronising and condescending.

"The council should talk to us more. There is help for larger businesses but smaller businesses are left alone."

Cllr Wheeler’s choice of words has overshadowed what should have been a positive announcement for the Labour group and the Tories seized on the opportunity to criticise the council’s parking policies, saying a high fees are hitting already fragile profits.

Cllr Wheeler, who is expected to lose his cabinet position in an imminent shake up, presented a raft of measures to help struggling businesses during the recession.

These include establishing a cross-party recession committee to come up with ideas to beat the economic downturn and to commit £100,000 to create business apprenticeships.

The council also pledged to increase the proportion of public contracts given to local suppliers by 50 per cent in the next three years.

Joe Cameron, who owns JJ's Cutting Room in Station Road, believes the council’s inability to stop so many similar businesses opening up close together is contributing to the problems.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is a pressure group which campaigns on behalf of the self-employed and owners of small firms.

A spokesman said: "The council is starting to engage positively with local small businesses as well as planning to attract larger businesses to our borough.

"It has agreed in principle to sign the FSB Small Business Engagement Accord. It is setting positive targets and putting in place the infrastructure to allow local businesses to have a vital role in future development.

"Cllr Wheeler's comments are easy to misinterpret but the overall message to small businesses should not be diluted at a critical time.The message is get involved, join the local business board and get in touch with us at the FSB. Together we can make it better."