BBPA urges publicans to check they receive business rate relief and flood support

21-Mar-2014 - Last updated on 24-Mar-2014 at 08:45 GMT

BBPA chief Brigid Simmonds: 'It is important to check that your local authority is providing the right amount'

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) is urging licensees to check they receive their business rate relief and has issued new guidance for pubs affected by the recent floods.

The BBPA is calling for publicans to check they receive the business rate relief discounts that were announced in Chancellor George Osborne’s Autumn Statement last December. The Chancellor promised pubs with a rateable value of under £50,000 a rebate of £1,000 over the next two years.

Local authorities are responsible for setting up a scheme to administer the relief, but if business rates statements do not show the discount or provide any information about it then the BBPA has said pubs should contact their local authority.

The relief is discretionary and each local authority has the power to decide whether or not it should be granted. However, as the relief is funded by the Government it is expected that most, if not all, authorities will apply the relief to pubs.

The BBPA added that it is important to note that rate relief will be applied to the net rates bill, meaning other rate reliefs (such as Small Business Rates Relief) will be applied before the £1,000 discount. If the net value payable falls below £1,000 then the annual payment level will be set to zero.

'Big burden'

BBPA chief executive Brigid Simmonds said: “With business rates bills still a big burden, and with local councils responsible for administering the new rate relief, it is important to check that your local authority is providing the right amount.”

The organisation said it is also advising premises in flood-affected areas to take advantage of new support measures introduced by the Government, including a three-month rates ‘holiday’ for those whose trade was hit.

These measures are set out in the Government’s recently updated ‘Flood Support Schemes Guidance Note’, and include business rates flooding relief, repair and renew grants, and further support for significant loss of trade due to floods.

The BBPA has produced a template letter for use in approaching local authorities to apply for these support schemes.