Wiltshire Council has published its financial year-end position for 2020/21, which details the most challenging circumstances it has ever faced.

Wrapped in a £1.5 billion business rates relief fund announcement late last month was confirmation of the Government’s intention to rule out Covid-related rates appeals, as commercial property expert Andrew Kilpatrick explains.

From independent shopkeepers to the mighty Confederation of British Industry and the Federation of Small Businesses, business voices are urging the government to extend business rates relief to save the high street.

The next national Rating Revaluation of all business properties will take place in 2023, having been postponed from 2021, earlier this year.

The 2023 Rating Revaluation will be based on rents at April 1, 2021, to allow time for the effects of the coronavirus pandemic to be reflected in rents.

A government announcement that the national rating revaluation for business rates will no longer take place in 2021 has been welcomed by a Swindon commercial property specialist.

Last week, communities secretary postponed the revaluation to help reduce uncertainty for firms affected by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Wiltshire Council is providing seven-day-a-week support for local businesses affected by the coronavirus outbreak.

Sixty members of staff have been redeployed from other roles within the council to help verify and assess the grant forms being submitted by local businesses for vital funding.

More than 800 businesses have applied to Swindon Borough Council for the Government grants announced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Council confirmed today (Friday) that it had issued more than £3.25 million in grants so far and continues to work through hundreds of applications for funding for small businesses and those in the retail, hospitality and leisure industries.

Around £1.5 million has been issued to small businesses this week as Wiltshire Council starts to release vital grants to support struggling businesses during the coronavirus outbreak.

Earlier this week the council wrote to over 8,000 businesses eligible for either a £10,000 grant for businesses in receipt of Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR) or rural rates relief and up to £25,000 for businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors with a rateable value of less than £51,000.

No business will have to pay business rates until June if they are struggling to pay bills because of the coronavirus pandemic, Wiltshire Council has confirmed.

The council is allowing business ratepayers to defer their payments for two months. The same rules apply to private residents paying council tax.

The 100 percent rate relief granted to qualifying commercial premises in the Budget earlier this month should be extended to professional services occupiers, according to leading commercial property agent Andrew Kilpatrick.

On March 11, chancellor of the exchequer Rishi Sunak said tens of thousands of retail, leisure and hospitality firms will not be asked to pay any business rates in the coming year under a scheme called Expanded Retail Rates Relief.

Small shops, pubs and music venues will benefit from a proposed reduction in business rates. On Saturday, Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid announced he would be slashing costs through Business Rate Relief and Pubs Relief.

The move is part of a package of measures designed to support local high streets. Small shops and cafes will see their bills halved as the retail discount, currently a third off, is extended to 50 percent.