Last Chance To Apply For Wales Retail Relief Business Rate Scheme

Local businesses in the Caerphilly County Borough area are being urged by the council to claim up to £1,500 in business rate relief by 31 March 2016. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Wales Retail Relief Business Rate Scheme was introduced by the Welsh Government in 2014 and has been continued through 2015/16. The grant assistance applies to qualifying occupied retail premises with a rateable value of £50,000 or less, that are wholly or mainly providing a service to visiting members of the public. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Officers from Caerphilly County Borough Council posted application forms during August 2015 to qualifying shops, restaurants, cafés and drinking establishments encouraging them to take advantage of the financial support on offer. A business can still apply for Wales Retail Relief even if it is already receiving other forms of rate relief, such as small business rate relief; however, the amount of relief will be capped to the amount of rates actually payable. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Ken James, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning & Sustainability, said: “I would encourage any business to apply for this this Welsh Government initiative. It is a great scheme which supports local businesses and gives them the opportunity to grow.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​