Sep 2015

  1. Saving the High Street

    Rochdale Borough Council has announced a pilot scheme to encourage new business into Rochdale town centre.

    For selected properties the council is offering an 80% reduction in non domestic rates for the 2015/16 year and a further 50% in 2015/16. This is significantly higher than the amounts announced by the Government for businesses occupying a long empty property.

    The relief will count as state aid and would therefore probably not apply to any national multiples … Read more

  2. The end of the Valuation Office Agency’s supposed neutrality?

    As part of the forthcoming Enterprise Bill and the Government’s pledge to reform the Rating system, it has been announced that the law will be amended to permit the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) to share information with Local Councils.

    This is being promoted as an administrative simplification under the “tell us once” policy. Obviously, that immediate benefit cannot be denied. However, it must be remembered that Local Councils used to do the valuations for Rating, … Read more

  3. Business Rates appeals changes announced in Enterprise Bill

    As widely flagged by the Interim Findings of the Business Rates Administration Review discussion paper published on 10 October 2014, the Government has announced major changes to the Business Rates appeals system as part of the forthcoming Enterprise Bill. The measures in the Enterprise Bill will broaden the existing enabling powers to ensure that comprehensive, effective and transparent reforms can be put in place. The changes to the the measures in the Enterprise Bill broaden … Read more