Councils win business rates power

MINISTERS have confirmed plans to give local authorities the right to grant discounts on business rates as part of a new package of new powers.

The power is part of a range of measures included in the new Localism Bill published yesterday which also sweeps away regional planning strategies and promises a new structure for dealing with planning applications for major infrastructure projects such as power stations.

The Bill was announced as the Government set out its plans for local government spending which will see councils across Yorkshire forced to make significant cuts.

In addition to giving councils more discretion over business rates, Ministers have promised to make small business tax breaks easier take advantage of, to give businesses a greater say in rate supplements and to cancel some backdated business rates.

Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles said: “The Localism Bill will herald a ground-breaking shift in power to councils and communities overturning decades of central government control and starting a new era of people power.”

The Government also confirmed plans for elected mayors to lead the councils in Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield and Wakefield. Existing council leaders will become “shadow mayors” ahead of referendums on the idea in May 2012.