Business rates and relief schemes
Business rates are collected by the Council and are used to help pay for local services provided by the Council. They are charged on most non-domestic properties including shops, offices, pubs, warehouses and factories.
All rateable values are reassessed at a general revaluation. The most recent revaluation took effect from 1st April 2017.
Find out the many different ways you can pay your Business Rates bill.
What to do if you suspect someone is receiving a reduction in their Business Rates bill because they are providing false information.
You may be able to get business rates relief. You will need to apply directly for a number of the relief schemes that are available including: small business rate relief; rural rate relief; and charitable rate relief.
Since March 2017 the government has announced new relief schemes: Supporting Small Businesses, New Discretionary Relief Scheme, New Business Rate Relief Scheme for Pubs, and Retail Discount Scheme.
Local restrictions support grants - Tier 4 and national lockdown
If you have already been awarded a grant, including the previous national lockdown (5 November to 2 December), and are legally required to close you do not need to reapply. The Council will automatically make payments on a recurring basis in line with the government guidelines.
The most recent automatic payment due were made on the 19 and 20 January (via BACS) and covers the period from 30 December to 4 January (Tier 4) and the 6 weekly national lockdown payment (5 January to 15 February). Businesses who have been awarded this payment will receive an email with the amount and period it covers.
Further information on the latest closed schemes, including the amounts due, can be found here:
Businesses who remain open under restrictions who received a LRSG (Open) in Tier 3 will be paid a 1 day pro-rata payment shortly for 30 December only, as there is no entitlement to the LRSG (Open) grant when in Tier and/or national lockdown
As the payment will be based on your original application form, it is important that you tell us straight away if you are no longer entitled to this grant. For example, if the business is no longer trading or ownership has changed.
New lockdown grants
If you have already been awarded a local restrictions closed grant, including during the previous national lockdown (5 November to 2 December), and are legally required to close you do not need to apply for the new lockdown grant. The Council has made an automatic one-off payment on 20 January (via BACS), the one-off top-ups will be granted to closed businesses (subject to state aid) as follows:
- £4,000 for businesses with a rateable value of £15,000 or under
- £6,000 for businesses with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000
- £9,000 for businesses with a rateable value of over £51,000
Further details on the one-off scheme.
Christmas support payment for wet-led pubs
The Government has announced the introduction of a £1,000 one-off payment as additional support to ‘wet-led pubs’ in areas under Tier 2 or 3 restrictions between the 2 and 29 December 2020.
You will need to apply even if you have already been paid a Tier 2 and / or Tier 3 grant.
If you have not yet applied and are a 'wet-led' pub that derives under 50% of their income from food sales you can apply here: