Boss ‘can’t apologise for system’ but urges those with concerns to get in touch

Mr Milton said he “can’t apologise for the system” as he assured businesses his staff were “happy and ready to engage” with their rates concerns.

The “number one misconception” was owners who wrongly thought their rateable value was the amount they had to pay, he revealed. But many others simply failed to grasp the full implications of a propertybased tax system, he suggested.

“Everyone is working to a very tight bottom line so if people have concerns about their assessment, I am very keen that they speak to us direct,” he said.

“I can’t apologise for the system that I am part of. It is government policy that an element of public money is raised through local taxation based on the value of properties.”

He said it was important to explain that “if you take on risk, take on debt, take on a challenge and improve your business premises, then your ‘reward’ is that your rateable value will increase.

“It’s a difficult concept but this is a property tax.”

While his Woodhill House-based staff had to carry out valuations within a very strict legal framework, they were fully aware of the tough times businesses faced and were on hand to provide whatever advice they could, he added.

“You can’t do some kind of HMRC contact centre approach where only 60% of calls are answered when you have people on the phone who are really concerned.”