Business Rates: Sidmouth needs 'a level playing field' to protect the High Street

By The Editor

7th May 2020 | Local News

Sidmouth Chamber of Commerce is pushing for 'a level playing field' for local businesses to help them compete with online business which do not pay business rates.

The chamber made the comments after the Government announced yesterday that it has postponed a revaluation of business rates until 2022, 'to ensure businesses have more certainty during this difficult time'.

Nub news contacted Sidmouth Chamber of Commerce for its reaction to the news. In response the chamber has called for a change in the rules around business rates which it believes is unfairly penalising High Street businesses.

"We do not think that that government has any choice but to delay this revaluation," said a spokesperson for Sidmouth Chamber of Commerce.

"Whilst the COVID-19 business rates relief is much welcomed for 2020/21, we have to be prepared that it is going to take some businesses a number of years to recover from this pandemic, especially those businesses that have had to take out CBLIS and Bounce Back loans to survive.

"There is much contention regarding Business Rates, and how businesses on the High Street, that pay business rates can compete with those who trade solely online and do not have these fixed costs. There needs to be a level playing field for ALL in order for our High Streets to survive."

The revaluation of business rates will no longer take place in 2021 to help reduce uncertainty for firms affected by the impacts of coronavirus, Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick MP announced yesterday.

Legislation had been introduced to bring the next revaluation forward by one year from 2022 to 2021, but following the recent economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic ministers 'want to ensure businesses have more certainty during this difficult time'.

Mr Jenrick said: "We have listened to businesses and their concerns about the timing of the 2021 business rates revaluation and have acted to end that uncertainty by postponing the change.

"Now is the time for us to continue to focus on supporting businesses affected by the pandemic, including through our unprecedented package of almost £10 billion in business rates relief.

"The government is continuing work on the fundamental review of business rates, with the key aims of reducing the overall burden on businesses, improving the current business rates system, and considering more fundamental changes in the medium-to-long term. The call for evidence for the review will be published in the coming months."

     

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