Aberdeen City Council seeks business rates solution

01 February 2017

Aberdeen City Council is investigating ways to support businesses facing increases in business rates from 1 April.

The Scottish Government’s rating revaluation and changes to reliefs and surcharges for 2017-18 will impact on bills for the year ahead, with some businesses benefitting from reduced rates and others facing a rise.

At an Urgent Business Committee yesterday (31 January) a motion by Council Leader Councillor Jenny Laing was agreed by members.

The motion noted representations made to Derek Mackay, the Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Constitution, by the Council Leader, Finance Convener, Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce and other business representatives.

Councillors agreed to instruct Chief Executive Angela Scott to work in partnership with the Scottish Government to explore all options and work towards finding a solution to help Aberdeen businesses deal with the planned increases.

Options, and the financial implications, will be presented in the Council budget report which will be considered on 22 February.

Councillor Willie Young, Finance Policy and Resources Convener, said: “Many Aberdeen businesses are facing large increases and, given the current economic climate in the region, that is a major concern.

“We are committed to working on behalf of businesses in the city to consider all options and officers will move forward with those investigations immediately.”