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Newbury Today Forum _ Newbury News _ Business Rate Retention

Posted by: blackdog Jun 22 2017, 09:15 AM

Someone commenting on the Queen's Speech yesterday noted that the Tory plans on Business Rate Retention were not mentioned - implying that this means that they won't go ahead.

Bad news for West Berkshire if this is the case.

Posted by: Berkshirelad Jun 23 2017, 10:14 AM

Could be because it is already in law...

It would only be in the Queen's Speech if they intended not to do it

Posted by: blackdog Jun 23 2017, 11:35 AM

QUOTE (Berkshirelad @ Jun 23 2017, 11:14 AM) *
Could be because it is already in law...

It would only be in the Queen's Speech if they intended not to do it


Nice idea, but sadly not the case. https://transport-network.co.uk/100-business-rates-retention-legislation-dropped/14200

Latest news on the Local Government Finance Bill 2016-17 (http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2016-17/localgovernmentfinance.html)

The Bill was to be considered at Report Stage and Third Reading.

However, as a General Election has now been called and Parliament will be dissolved from 3 May 2017, the Bill falls and no further action will be taken.


Seems to me that this was a Cameron/Osborne localisation idea that doesn't fit with May's Tory party.

Posted by: Berkshirelad Jun 23 2017, 12:32 PM

Thank you for that - I hadn't realised that it was due in this year's Finance Bill - I thought it had been done and dusted from one of Osborne's

Posted by: Simon Kirby Jun 23 2017, 06:53 PM

QUOTE (blackdog @ Jun 22 2017, 10:15 AM) *
Someone commenting on the Queen's Speech yesterday noted that the Tory plans on Business Rate Retention were not mentioned - implying that this means that they won't go ahead.

Bad news for West Berkshire if this is the case.

Very good point.

Posted by: blackdog Jun 23 2017, 08:13 PM

QUOTE (Berkshirelad @ Jun 23 2017, 01:32 PM) *
Thank you for that - I hadn't realised that it was due in this year's Finance Bill - I thought it had been done and dusted from one of Osborne's

It was not the annual Finance Bill but a special Local Government Finance Bill - the last was in the 1990s (I think).

Posted by: On the edge Jun 27 2017, 03:13 PM

I'd wholly agree that this could have serious consequences for West Berkshire if it doesn't get introduced. On the face of it, there would have been big benefits. I must admit, I've always been quite sceptical about the real intention of the Treasury in willingly giving up what they see as theirs. So perhaps the 'new' government was seen by them as a heaven sent opportunity to kill it off and bury it, particularly as it could be left pending until Brexit was clear vis sometime never. It would also seem that recent events, coupled with emerging evidence that certain public service trade associations have been seriously lobbying against the government, has lowered the opinion of local government still further centrally. So what are the odds that by goodbye to business rate reform, we'll see a far more extensive and doubtless painful) reform of local government?

Posted by: Turin Machine Jun 27 2017, 03:44 PM

QUOTE (On the edge @ Jun 27 2017, 04:13 PM) *
I'd wholly agree that this could have serious consequences for West Berkshire if it doesn't get introduced. On the face of it, there would have been big benefits. I must admit, I've always been quite sceptical about the real intention of the Treasury in willingly giving up what they see as theirs. So perhaps the 'new' government was seen by them as a heaven sent opportunity to kill it off and bury it, particularly as it could be left pending until Brexit was clear vis sometime never. It would also seem that recent events, coupled with emerging evidence that certain public service trade associations have been seriously lobbying against the government, has lowered the opinion of local government still further centrally. So what are the odds that by goodbye to business rate reform, we'll see a far more extensive and doubtless painful) reform of local government?

It's always possible, not likely mind you, but possible.

Posted by: blackdog Jun 27 2017, 05:26 PM

Despite the lack of a Local Government Finance Bill, a Department for Communities and Local Government spokeswoman said: 'The Government is committed to delivering the manifesto pledge to help local authorities control more of the money they raise and will work closely with local government to agree the best way to achieve this.' (https://www.localgov.co.uk/Queens-speech-fails-to-mention-reforms-to-local-government-finance-/43285)

It seems that this is a controversial move within the Tory party - perhaps because most of the councils that will gain from the move are solid Tory.

And I was wrong about the date of the last Local Government Finace Act, there was one in 2012.

Posted by: On the edge Jun 27 2017, 05:54 PM

QUOTE (blackdog @ Jun 27 2017, 06:26 PM) *
Despite the lack of a Local Government Finance Bill, a Department for Communities and Local Government spokeswoman said: 'The Government is committed to delivering the manifesto pledge to help local authorities control more of the money they raise and will work closely with local government to agree the best way to achieve this.' (https://www.localgov.co.uk/Queens-speech-fails-to-mention-reforms-to-local-government-finance-/43285)

It seems that this is a controversial move within the Tory party - perhaps because most of the councils that will gain from the move are solid Tory.

And I was wrong about the date of the last Local Government Finace Act, there was one in 2012.


So no change then! Simply like before, when RB has a chat and explains nicely that the latest are just a bit too far, bung back a few bob as 'transitional financing' and job done.


Posted by: je suis Charlie Jun 27 2017, 09:31 PM

QUOTE (On the edge @ Jun 27 2017, 06:54 PM) *
So no change then! Simply like before, when RB has a chat and explains nicely that the latest are just a bit too far, bung back a few bob as 'transitional financing' and job done.

Yup. tongue.gif

Posted by: On the edge Jun 29 2017, 06:58 AM

QUOTE (je suis Charlie @ Jun 27 2017, 10:31 PM) *
Yup. tongue.gif


Of course, there wouldn't be anywhere near the problem there is today if lush subsidies doshed out to devolved regional 'Governments' were eliminated. Ironic, that even the Labour promoter of the worst excess recognises it went on far too long. Given recent events the door for change here has been slammed shut. Logic should be telling us that with our solid Tory Councils and Tory MP with a solid majority, WBC's chances of a financial respite are slim indeed; as the saying goes, 'why give a sucker an even break?'

Posted by: je suis Charlie Jun 29 2017, 07:31 AM

QUOTE (On the edge @ Jun 29 2017, 07:58 AM) *
Of course, there wouldn't be anywhere near the problem there is today if lush subsidies doshed out to devolved regional 'Governments' were eliminated. Ironic, that even the Labour promoter of the worst excess recognises it went on far too long. Given recent events the door for change here has been slammed shut. Logic should be telling us that with our solid Tory Councils and Tory MP with a solid majority, WBC's chances of a financial respite are slim indeed; as the saying goes, 'why give a sucker an even break?'

Yup.

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