WORRIES that Bridgnorth firms could face record business rate bills have resulted in claims that the Government is using a “backdoor way to hike taxes by stealth”. A five per cent rise on the demands will mean an increase in the average bill for Bridgnorth of £220, taking it to £4,621 for the coming financial year.
But now the Government wants to introduce a Business Rates Supplement Bill which would allow a ‘supplementary’ additional amount which would almost double the rate of the rise, giving a total of £4,819. More than 2,000 businesses currently pay an average of £4,401, raising a total of £9 million.
Local MP Philip Dunne said that the supplementary business rates were likely to fund local authorities’ current spending, rather than infrastructure.
“I fear that supplementary business rates will be yet another backdoor way for Gordon Brown to hike taxes by stealth,” said Mr Dunne. “At a time when local firms are struggling for their very survival, ever higher business rates could be the last straw.
“I am on the committee next week taking this bill through Parliament as the Conservative Whip and we will do the utmost to oppose this measure,” he added.
Councillor Pate, who also chairs the new Shropshire Council implementation committee, said the move seemed to be a nonsense while the Government was pumping millions of pounds into the banking system.
“As far as I am concerned Shropshire Council will not be implementing supplementary business rates,” he said.
“The Government should take a leaf out of local government.”