AQW 39175/11-15

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 21/11/2014
Answered On Date: 16/01/2015
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Finance and Personnel what measures are in place to support occupants of non-domestic properties in Coleraine that are facing rate increases of more than 100 per cent, due to Rate Revaluation from April 2015.

Answer:

It is unclear of the specific case(s) that you are referring to and it is too early to know what rates bills will be, until the rate poundage is agreed early next year. Furthermore, Coleraine ratepayers are amongst those who stand to benefit from the £30m District Rates Convergence scheme. So, percentage increases in value are unlikely to translate into the same percentage increase in rates.

During a consultation undertaken by my Department and the Northern Ireland Centre for Economic Policy earlier this year, support was expressed for extending SBRR next year instead of having a special transitional relief scheme for the revaluation. It is also worth noting in this context that the transitional relief schemes that applied at the last two non domestic revaluations were directed at very small properties and since then the Assembly introduced the Small Business Rate Relief scheme. I have proposed in the Budget proposals that we retain this support next year at a cost of £20 million.

There are no plans to provide further support to those facing substantial increases due to the revaluation. It is not a priority, it is unaffordable and it could be argued that they have benefited from the absence of revaluation for many years.