Council calls on Minister to allow it to vary business rates in bid to tackle high street vacancies
They have made a call to the Finance Minister John O'Dowd for new powers for councils to separate non-domestic rates between big and smaller businesses, in a bid to liven up town centres and fight vacancies.
At the most recent full meeting of the council at Bangor Castle, UUP councillor Philip Smith proposed that 'to grow our non-domestic rates base, the council writes to the Minister for Finance to request that he amends the Administrative and Financial Provisions Bill to provide local councils with the powers to vary the level of rates increases between SME's (small and medium enterprises) and larger businesses'.
News Catch Up - Wednesday 30th July
Rates are a property tax used to fund services at both local or 'district' level through councils and the 'regional' level through the NI Assembly.
They are collected from residential property owners through domestic rates and business owners through non-domestic rates. Business rates are a rate for all non domestic properties, such as offices, factories and shops, with bills based on the rateable value of that property.
Mr Smith said: 'The debate around the vacancy rates obviously highlighted the issues we have, particularly around certain areas like Bangor. I strongly believe a measure like this would help our performance. We obviously have a corporate goal to attract more businesses to the borough and grow our non-domestic rate base, and we are currently reviewing how we might best do this.
'One lever we have discussed is the possible use of the non-domestic rate, and the decoupling powers that the previous Finance Minister provided to bear the domestic and non-domestic rates increases. One of the issues we have all identified is the danger this would benefit large companies the best – the likes of Tesco, Mark and Spencer and Sainsburys would incur more than smaller businesses.
'Councils in Northern Ireland do not have the power to vary the rates of increase between different types of businesses. If we did, it would obviously give us the flexibility to make a decision on this.'
He added: 'The principle for targeting rates at small businesses is well established across the whole of the UK, the only anomaly is that Northern Ireland councils don't have the power or the flexibility to vary our rates policy accordingly. That's why I want to raise it with the Finance Minister and ask him to give councils this power to differentiate between rate increases between SME's and larger businesses.
'He is currently bringing a bill through the Assembly at the moment, called the Administrative and Financial Provisions Bill, which is covering a whole plethora of different issues within government in Northern Ireland.'
He added: 'This is not a new concept, but what is new would be allowing councils in Northern Ireland to vary their rates and deploy this policy if they chose to do so.'
The chamber supported the proposal.
A study commissioned by the council, and delivered by Queen's University and McGarry Consultants from analysis earlier this year, showed Bangor has an overall vacancy rate of 20%, while Newtownards has an overall vacancy rate of 21.3%.
In Bangor, 11 of the 12 vacant properties on Queen's Parade are due to be developed as part of the Queen's Parade development – leaving these out of the figures would reduce vacancy in Bangor to 16.5%.
The greatest concentrations of vacancy in Newtownards are at Movilla Street, Greenwell Street, and Castle Street, with respective vacancy rates of 42.9%, 42.9% and 40%.
The study report is part of preparation by the council for its 'Empty to Energised' scheme, which will see a pilot launched as a first point to developing interventions to tackle the issue of vacancy and dereliction in the borough.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Belfast Telegraph
a day ago
- Belfast Telegraph
New UUP MLA Jon Burrows calls for Unionism to have 'same passion' as Nationalism
The New UUP MLA for North Antrim and former PSNI Superintendent Jon Burrows has said it is 'vital' for Unionism to have the 'same passion' as Nationalism to promote the benefits of Northern Ireland.
Belfast Telegraph
a day ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Former PSNI officer Jon Burrows promises to be ‘visible, accessible and responsive' in new role as MLA
The former head of the police's discipline branch formally signed the roll at Parliament Buildings as the new representative for North Antrim at 11am on Monday. Mr Burrows, who retired from the force after 22 years on health grounds in 2021, described it as 'an absolute honour' to be selected by the Ulster Unionist Party to replace Colin Crawford who stepped down in July. 'I wish my predecessor, Colin Crawford, all the very best for the future,' he said. 'I have spoken to Colin in recent days, and it is clear to me he has a passion for both public service and for North Antrim. 'North Antrim occupies a special place in my heart, and I lived in the constituency for ten years when I was in the PSNI in Londonderry. "I will serve all the constituents from every part of the constituency without exception, and it is already clear to me that there is pressing work to be done on a range of issues that really matter to local people. "I will get started immediately on doing this important work. Having volunteered in a local food bank in recent years, I am only too aware of the hard realities that many people face and the extent of need in our local communities.' Mr Burrows vowed to be 'visible, accessible and responsive' constituents as he expressed excitement about working with the party's four councillors in the area and the local UUP association 'who do fantastic and often unheralded work'. "I also look forward to providing rigorous scrutiny in the Assembly, which is vital to ensuring the highest quality of local government for all the people of Northern Ireland,' Mr Burrows continued. 'It is an honour to once again serve the people of Northern Ireland after my career in policing. I believe in Northern Ireland and its people and will do whatever I can to make this a better place for everyone.' UUP leader Mike Nesbitt MLA has welcomed Mr Burrows to Stormont as he also paid tribute to his predecessor. 'What's done is done, and I again wish Colin Crawford the very best for the future,' he said. I see the immediate future for Jon as very exciting, with nearly two years to embed himself into his new role and make the seat his own. 'As a party of law and order, it should be no surprise that we often turn to those who have served their country when vacancies arise in elected politics. I welcome Jon as an ideal candidate. He has a wealth of experience, he is totally committed to this place that we all call home, and he has the energy an MLA needs to deliver for the people he represents. "As someone who has worked and lived in North Antrim, I am beyond confident Jon will quickly embed himself again in the constituency.' Storm Floris to bring 'unseasonably strong winds' to parts of UK Meanwhile, Mr Crawford wished his replacement 'every success' in the future. . 'I would like to warmly congratulate Jon Burrows on being selected as my replacement to represent the people of North Antrim," he said. 'I wish Jon every success in his new role and offer him my full support and assistance as he takes up this important responsibility. Representing North Antrim has been a great honour, and I know Jon will bring his own strengths and commitment to the job.'
Belfast Telegraph
6 days ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Council calls on Minister to allow it to vary business rates in bid to tackle high street vacancies
Elected representatives at Ards and North Down Borough Council want to differentiate rates increases between small and medium businesses and larger ones. They have made a call to the Finance Minister John O'Dowd for new powers for councils to separate non-domestic rates between big and smaller businesses, in a bid to liven up town centres and fight vacancies. At the most recent full meeting of the council at Bangor Castle, UUP councillor Philip Smith proposed that 'to grow our non-domestic rates base, the council writes to the Minister for Finance to request that he amends the Administrative and Financial Provisions Bill to provide local councils with the powers to vary the level of rates increases between SME's (small and medium enterprises) and larger businesses'. News Catch Up - Wednesday 30th July Rates are a property tax used to fund services at both local or 'district' level through councils and the 'regional' level through the NI Assembly. They are collected from residential property owners through domestic rates and business owners through non-domestic rates. Business rates are a rate for all non domestic properties, such as offices, factories and shops, with bills based on the rateable value of that property. Mr Smith said: 'The debate around the vacancy rates obviously highlighted the issues we have, particularly around certain areas like Bangor. I strongly believe a measure like this would help our performance. We obviously have a corporate goal to attract more businesses to the borough and grow our non-domestic rate base, and we are currently reviewing how we might best do this. 'One lever we have discussed is the possible use of the non-domestic rate, and the decoupling powers that the previous Finance Minister provided to bear the domestic and non-domestic rates increases. One of the issues we have all identified is the danger this would benefit large companies the best – the likes of Tesco, Mark and Spencer and Sainsburys would incur more than smaller businesses. 'Councils in Northern Ireland do not have the power to vary the rates of increase between different types of businesses. If we did, it would obviously give us the flexibility to make a decision on this.' He added: 'The principle for targeting rates at small businesses is well established across the whole of the UK, the only anomaly is that Northern Ireland councils don't have the power or the flexibility to vary our rates policy accordingly. That's why I want to raise it with the Finance Minister and ask him to give councils this power to differentiate between rate increases between SME's and larger businesses. 'He is currently bringing a bill through the Assembly at the moment, called the Administrative and Financial Provisions Bill, which is covering a whole plethora of different issues within government in Northern Ireland.' He added: 'This is not a new concept, but what is new would be allowing councils in Northern Ireland to vary their rates and deploy this policy if they chose to do so.' The chamber supported the proposal. A study commissioned by the council, and delivered by Queen's University and McGarry Consultants from analysis earlier this year, showed Bangor has an overall vacancy rate of 20%, while Newtownards has an overall vacancy rate of 21.3%. In Bangor, 11 of the 12 vacant properties on Queen's Parade are due to be developed as part of the Queen's Parade development – leaving these out of the figures would reduce vacancy in Bangor to 16.5%. The greatest concentrations of vacancy in Newtownards are at Movilla Street, Greenwell Street, and Castle Street, with respective vacancy rates of 42.9%, 42.9% and 40%. The study report is part of preparation by the council for its 'Empty to Energised' scheme, which will see a pilot launched as a first point to developing interventions to tackle the issue of vacancy and dereliction in the borough.
