Following growing concerns that local councils were not acting swiftly enough to ensure pubs receive all the rates reliefs to which they are entitled following changes in the Budget, the BBPA has welcomed the firm line issued by the Department of Communities and Local Government, telling councils that it expects them to deliver the discounts and communicate this to those ratepayers that qualify.
The notice comes in a detailed ‘Business Rate Information letter (4/2017) which is available on the DCLG website, here. In May, BBPA Chief Executive, Brigid Simmonds had urged Government and local authorities to work together to resolve the issue as soon as possible.
The advice to councils to ensure reliefs are granted, covers premises facing the loss of either small business rate relief, or rural rate relief, but also makes clear that this applies to the new, pub-specific rates relief for premises with rateable values under £100,000, with the issuing of an annex to the document on the design and delivery of the scheme.
BBPA Chief Executive Brigid Simmonds comments:
“I am grateful to DCLG for issuing clear guidance that stresses how important it is for councils to ensure that local business receive all the rates relief for which they qualify. Local authorities now need to get on and deliver these lower bills to businesses. For pubs, this is much needed, given the very great extra cost pressures they are facing this year.”
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
David Wilson, Director of Public Affairs: 020 7627 9151
Neil Williams, Head of Media: 020 7627 9156 / 07974 249 779
Tom Pratt, Campaigns & Communications Officer 020 7627 9155
Notes to editors:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/42017-spring-budget-update
The British Beer & Pub Association is the leading body representing Britain’s brewers and pub companies. The Association is more than a century old and was originally founded as the Brewers’ Society in 1904. Our members account for some 90 per cent of beer brewed in Britain today, and own around 20,000 of the nation’s pubs.
Neil Williams
Head of Media
British Beer & Pub Association
British Beer & Pub Association
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