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Government pilot means Pendle will get more from Business Rates growth
Published: Monday, 17th December 2018
“Pendle will be able to keep more of its Business Rates growth next year,” said Councillor Paul White, Leader of Pendle Council.
Pendle Council is a partner in the recently announced Lancashire Business Rates Pilot Scheme which will give an estimated £9m boost to the county.
Pendle is one of 15 authorities who are working together in the Lancashire wide pilot which will start on 1 April 2019.
“The Lancashire authorities have been working in partnership on Business Rates for a number of years,” explained Councillor White.
“Taking part in the pilot should mean more funding to invest in services at a time when local authority budgets are under intense pressure.
“It also has the potential to increase resources available to target strategic economic growth across Pendle and the rest of Lancashire.
“And this pilot means our efforts to encourage more businesses, more jobs and greater prosperity should pay dividends and we will all be able to share in the pooled rewards.”
Councillor White explained that Pendle Council works hard to support the local economy and it offers a bigger support package with grants, advice and training than most small councils in the North West.
He added: “As the economy grows, with new businesses starting up and more businesses expanding their operations in Pendle, the growing income in business rates will mostly stay in Pendle."
The government will be using Lancashire to help test the pilot with the aim of rolling out the new Business Rates retention scheme to all local authorities in the UK from 2020 to 2021.
The following authorities are in the Lancashire Pilot:
• Burnley Borough Council
• Chorley Borough Council
• Fylde Borough Council
• Hyndburn Borough Council
• Pendle Borough Council
• Preston City Council
• Ribble Valley Borough Council
• Rossendale Borough Council
• South Ribble Borough Council
• West Lancashire Borough Council
• Wyre Borough Council
• Lancashire County Council
• Blackpool Borough Council
• Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council
• Lancashire Combined Fire Authority
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