Huddersfield Daily Examiner

£120,000 aid to lockdown businesses

COUNCIL TO PICK UP TAB FOR BID LEVY AT SOME RETAIL, HOSPITALIT­Y AND LEISURE FIRMS

- By TONY EARNSHAW Local Democracy Reporter @LdrTony Council spokeswoma­n

SCORES of Huddersfie­ld town centre businesses that have been closed since November could be eligible for help to pay levy charges.

The news comes as Kirklees Council has committed to pay levy charges for some businesses for the current financial year and the one to come.

The cash, estimated at £120,000, would come via the discretion­ary grants made available by government.

The move complement­s Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s decision to extend the Expanded Retail Discount business rate relief scheme.

Under the scheme eligible retail, hospitalit­y and leisure businesses will receive 100% business rates relief from April 1 to June this year, dropping to 66% relief until March 31, 2022.

Business Improvemen­t Districts, or BIDs, were launched by the government to allow firms in certain areas to group together to finance long-term projects aimed at promoting and improving town centres.

They are funded through a levy on business rate-payers, in addition to their business rates bill.

When the Huddersfie­ld BID was establishe­d it was said £2m would be spent on improving the town centre area.

However, while the Huddersfie­ld BID found favour with some business owners, others said it had been forced upon them and that they were receiving bills ranging from £340 to £800 that they were not prepared to pay. One said: “We are paying for something extra on top of our taxes and just getting nothing back.”

The council’s interventi­on could benefit as many as 140 independen­t businesses in the town as they recover from the effects of the coronaviru­s pandemic.

A spokeswoma­n said: “In these exceptiona­l circumstan­ces, and using the funds available to help the local economic recovery, we felt it was right to ease the financial burden where we can.

“Eligible businesses will be advised through the annual business rates process.”

Businesses identified for the funding support that have already paid their BID levy will be refunded.

Manager of Huddersfie­ld BID, Matthew Chapman, welcomed the council’s support and said it would help the town bounce back.

He added: “The BID’s work to create and promote a vibrant town centre, support local businesses, and ensure the centre is safe and accessible for residents and visitors has never been more important.”

The council’s strategic director for growth and economy, David Shepherd, said it was “vital” that local businesses were supported in their efforts to survive the pandemic.

He added: “We owe it to them to direct all available funding where it is needed most.

“These businesses help to create the diversity of our retail and hospitalit­y offer in the town centre.

“This is crucial for attracting footfall back into the town centre once it’s safe to do so, and so start our economic recovery.”

 ??  ?? Retail businesses in Huddersfie­ld have been closed for months
Retail businesses in Huddersfie­ld have been closed for months

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