Small Business Rates Cuts Welcomed

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Small Business Rates Cuts Welcomed

Dozens of small businesses in Highland Perthshire will no longer pay business rates from next year as result of the work of Conservative MSPs in Holyrood, local Tories have claimed.
Graham Rees, Conservative by-election candidate for the Highland ward on Perth & Kinross Council, welcomed the announcement from the Scottish Government that it had bowed to Conservative pressure and would be amending the budget to bring in the rates cuts.

The concessions will mean that, from this April, businesses with a rateable value on their premises of £8000 or less will see their rates bills cut by 80%, and wiped out altogether from April 2009. Businesses with rateable values of £8000 to £15,000 will also see substantial reductions.

Graham said: “As a small business owner in Perthshire myself for many years, I know personally the burden of business rates which have to be paid regardless of how profitable the business is. Our small towns have suffered due to high rates bills which has made it expensive for shops to be occupied, and as a result we have seen too many shops close and local services lost.

“The work of Murdo Fraser MSP and his Conservative colleagues in Holyrood has ensured that the smallest businesses will pay no rates at all from next year.

“This will be a very welcome boost to the Highland Perthshire economy and put money directly in to the pockets of business owners. It will ensure the success of our local town centres in Pitlochry and Aberfeldy.”
Ian Campbell, Conservative councillor for the Highland ward, added: “The announcement on business rates cuts comes on top of last week’s announcement that the Conservatives had secured an extra 500 new police recruits, which will put more police on the streets of our communities.

“This all shows that, despite not being in Government, the Conservatives are delivering for people in Highland Perthshire.”