Chancellor Rishi Sunak revealed a range of discounts for retailers and hospitality and leisure businesses including pubs for one year as a result of the potential impact of the Coronavirus.
The changes are set to be introduced on 1 April but have to be ratified by Parliament and as a result, eligible businesses should continue with the current payment schedule until they receive further instructions.
They will then be reimbursed by the Council in due course.
Jon Dearing, Group Manager for Resident Services, said: “By law we have to issue the letters now so businesses can have 14 days’ notice of what they will be charged.
“It is bad timing but affected businesses can rest assured that any overpayment on their part will be refunded as soon as possible.”
The changes announced in the Budget include:
· For retail businesses with a rateable value of under £51,000 the discount will be increased to 100 per cent and expanded to include hospitality and leisure businesses for 2021.
· Pubs with a rateable value below £100,000 will enjoy a discount of £5,000 rather than £1,000.
The government is launching a “fundamental review” of business rates to report in the autumn.