Council agrees to offer retailers business rate discount

SMALLER shops, restaurants and cafés are amongst the businesses who will benefit from a high street rate relief scheme adopted by Carmarthenshire County Council.

Members of the council’s Executive Board have agreed to implement a Welsh Government discretionary scheme to support smaller town centre businesses.

Businesses, including those in the retail, hospitality and entertainment sectors, could be eligible for a discount of up to £2,500 off their rates as part of the scheme.

Whilst business rates are set by Welsh Government, local authorities which are responsible for collecting the rates have been allowed to apply the scheme if they want to provide support to businesses in their area.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Executive Board Member for Resources, Cllr David Jenkins, said the council has adopted the scheme since 2017 and felt that extending it again for the coming year would provide a great support to smaller businesses in the county’s town centres.

Following unanimous approval, the scheme will now apply to retailers in town centres and surrounding areas, but not out-of-town retail parks and industrial estates.

The relief will be available to businesses occupying premises with a rateable value of between £6,001 and £50,000 in the financial year 2020-21.

The scheme is fully funded by Welsh Government.

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