Doncaster pubs and businesses to get rates relief

The mayor has announced changes to business rates meaning many smaller local retail businesses will have their bills reduced by 50 per cent in 2020/2021. Many local pubs will also benefit and will be given a £1,000 discount on their rates for next year.

The scheme will be paid for by central government and not Doncaster taxpayers.

Previously, the council’s retail rate relief scheme allowed local businesses to pay one third less on their rates. This will now change to 50 per cent less.

The new Pub Discount Scheme means that pubs with a rateable value below £100,000 will also be awarded with a £1,000 discount in 2020/2021.

The scheme will begin on April 1 and around 800 businesses and pubs in Doncaster will benefit.

From an analysis of Business Rates records, there are currently 819 local businesses that qualify for Retail Relief amounting to £2 million.

The estimated cost based on the new level of relief at 50 per cent is £3 million, assuming no businesses are affected by state aid rules which would preclude them from receiving the relief.

Mayor Ros Jones said: “These reliefs provide a much needed boost for the retail sector and our high streets. I’ve said many times that Doncaster is open for business and we must support the small local businesses and pubs which are part of our communities.

“The scheme is funded by the government, not tax payers, and we are using our discretion to award the relief where we believe our local businesses will benefit, as we recognise the ongoing challenges they face.”

In a Written Ministerial Statement on January 27, 2020, the Government announced that it would extend the value of the Retail Relief from one third of the bill to 50 per cent in 2020/21.

This relief will apply to occupied retail properties with a rateable value of less than £51,000 in the year 2020/21. It also extended the type of retail properties to include cinemas and live music venues.