Bolton pubs to have new rates relief applied after cap

Speaking at a special meeting of Bolton Council’s cabinet on Monday (February 9), the council’s business rates manager explained the relief pubs would receive.

He said the 40 per cent retail relief scheme for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses would be ending this year, but other support will be put in place.

These will limit increases of business rates, capping increases at either £800 per year or an applicable percentage – most likely to be 15 per cent for most businesses in Bolton.

For the following two years, business rates will “only increase by the level of inflation” which the officer said would likely be “of more value” than the additional 15 per cent relief.

The 15 per cent added relief announced by the government last month will be applied after the cap – and will only apply to pubs and live music venues.

‘Still not good enough’

Cllr Nadim Muslim (Image: Bolton Council)

Cllr Nadim Muslim, leader of the Conservative Group, said he appreciates that “this is not anything that you can control from council”, but that the support “still isn’t good enough”.

He said hospitality businesses are struggling with not just business rates, but increases in the minimum wage and national insurance.

He said: “We should look at as many options as possible where we can be doing more to support those in the hospitality sector because, as it stands, more will continue to go out of business.”

Cllr Nick Peel, leader of the council, said the transitional relief scheme – which does not include the added 15 per cent relief – is a £4.5bn investment and “significant amount of money”.

‘Need to ensure businesses are aware’

Cllr Nick Peel (Image: Bolton Council)

He said: “We need to ensure that businesses in Bolton who are worried about the revaluation are aware of the transitional relief scheme.

“These are significant amounts of money and that’s even before we get into the relief from the discount.

“It’s very complicated, perhaps we should do some basic online questions and answers somewhere to point people towards to get the basic stuff.

“And if there’s anything more complex, they can move on to have a face-to-face.”