WEST Devon Borough Council would like to remind businesses that the Government’s two year retail rate relief scheme is coming to a close at the end of March.

The Government brought in the nationwide scheme in 2014 to provide business rates relief for retail businesses.

 On 31 March 2016, the scheme will end with many shops, pubs and cafes being affected by the change.

 As the scheme comes to a close, the council would like to reassure business owners of the help they may be entitled to. Businesses can find out if they are entitled to claim other reliefs, including small business rates relief. The Government has continued this additional relief and it will now run until 31 March 2017.  This has the effect of doubling the amount of relief a business receives.

 There are also options available to businesses regarding their payment arrangements. The Government has changed the legislation to allow businesses to pay their rates over the full financial year, rather than just the first 10 months.

 The council also has the ability to award relief to struggling businesses who are suffering hardship, and having difficulty paying their business rates.

The council can award discretionary relief on other occasions, where it is in the interest of local council tax payers to do so.  This could be where a company wants to expand and create additional jobs in the area.

 Any discretionary relief award is part funded by local council tax payers, this means any application is looked at on its individual merits.

 If you are a business affected by the end of the retail relief scheme, visit West Devon Borough Council’s website at www.westdevon.gov.uk/business where you may be eligible to apply for a different relief and you can also arrange payments. You can also call customer services on 01822 618800.