Supporting Small Business Relief Schemes 2023-24 to 2025-26
Due to the Business Rates revaluation coming into force on 1 April 2023, the Government has announced a relief scheme for businesses which will cap bill increases at £600 per year for any business losing eligibility for some or all Small Business Rates Relief or Rural Rate Relief at the 2023 Valuation.
If your business was receiving one of these reliefs, the limit in the increase in your Business Rates bill will be set at £600 per year whilst the scheme exists.
You do not have to apply for this relief as it will automatically be applied to your Business Rates bill.
Although this reduction is funded by the Government and with Government-set eligibility criteria, it is awarded using the Council's discretionary powers. As such, the award must not breach subsidy control limits.
Details of the scheme and other reliefs can be found at Gov.UK.
Retail, Hospitality & Leisure Relief Scheme 2024-25
The Government have extended the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief scheme for a further year, and increased the Relief award against the Business Rates bill to 75%.
This covers the Business Rates bills for businesses occupying property for certain Retail, Hospitality and Leisure purposes, where the main use of the premises is for visiting members of the public.
The Council has agreed a Business Rates Relief 2024/25: Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Scheme based on the Government's guidance and eligibility criteria. Further details can be found here.
The Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief is a Government funded scheme with Government-set eligibility criteria, but it is awarded using the Council's discretionary power. As such, the award must keep the business within subsidy control limits.
There is also a limit to the amount that any business can receive, which is to a maximum of £110,000 for the 2023/24 financial year across all of their properties in England. Where the ratepayer has a qualifying connection with another ratepayer then those ratepayers should be considered as one ratepayer for the purposes of the cash caps.
If you are receiving Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief of more than £110,000 on any other properties you must let the Council know.
If you do not wish to receive the Relief, or you are not eligible to receive the relief, but it is showing on your Business Rates bill, you can let us know here:
Contact the Business Rates Team
Subsidy Control Limits (Formerly Known as State Aid)
The business must also keep within their obligations under the Subsidy Control Act. This is where the business receives additional aid from Government bodies such as discretionary help or grants.
Please note, if you are unsure of you legal obligations regarding subsidy control, the Council is not able to provide you with any advice. You will need to keep evidence of the award under subsidy control.
For more information, please read the Government Guidance note.
Accepting the relief means that you confirm that you do not breach your subsidy control levels, and will notify the Council of any relevant subsidy control awards totalling above £315,000 in accordance with the subsidy control rules. You can notify us of these awards using the button below: