The British Retail Consortium last week wrote to chancellor Sajid Javid, urging the government to freeze
business rate increases.
Local authorities keep half of
business rate income with half going to central government.
For a start, the
business rate system is entrenching regional inequalities.
If your
business rate bill increased last year and is contributing towards financial hardship, you may qualify for the council's
business rates relief scheme.
A Policy Network report calls for councils to have full powers to set
business rate levels, working alongside combined authorities - alongside a new system for determining what businesses pay.
Clr Sheard added that
business rate relief for small businesses was vital locally, adding: "We've got to make sure that continues."
In your North East Manifesto survey, there was huge support for a
business rate cut, at 47.1%.
Ministers should also strongly lobby UK Government to retain the small
business rate relief scheme beyond March, 2013.
Today the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) called on the government to drop its plans, pointing out the uniform
business rate was established in 1990 specifically to prevent councils in certain areas of the country from hitting firms with inflation-busting
business rate rises.
The Supreme Court has given the government the right to appeal a PS300m court dispute over
business rate bills for cash machines outside shops.
John Fuller, vice chairman of the LGA's Resources Board, said: "Ongoing delays in tackling
business rate appeals from 2010 are heaping further financial uncertainty and pressure on our local services at a time when every penny counts to give councils the best chance of protecting services over the next few years.
