Council Business Rates Welcomed

The Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association (NIIRTA) has welcomed news that 15 out of the 26 local councils have passed nought per cent business rates for 2014/15 and that three; Omagh, Ballymoney and Castlereagh actually reduced their rates.

NIIRTA chief executive Glyn Roberts said: “High business rates remains one of the top concerns of our members and it is welcome that so many councils have listened to their concerns by keeping their rates down for 2014/15 down. In particular, Ballymoney, Omagh and Castlereagh councils deserve praise for actually passing a reduced business rate.”

“It is critical in these early stages of economic recovery that Government at every level, keeps all forms of taxation on small businesses as low as possible to support new investment and jobs.”

Glyn added: “In recent years we have made considerable progress on rates, with the introduction of the Small Business Rates Relief and Empty Premises Rate Relief schemes. This progress needs to be built upon by the ongoing rates revaluation putting local small businesses and town centres first. Next month NIIRTA will be launching a very detailed manifesto for the new 11 councils with a number of new ideas to accelerate economic growth in our town and city centres.”