Commentary on Sections Part 5: Non-Domestic Rates Section 61: Small business relief
103.Research published by the Government shows rates to be an especially heavy burden for small businesses, accounting for a significantly higher proportion of operating profits than in the case of larger businesses. This section will allow a reduction in the rate bills of small businesses, funded in England (see section 64) by a supplement on the bills of other ratepayers.
104.Section 61 amends section 43 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 so that where specified conditions are met the rate bill for a property will be reduced by an amount prescribed by the Secretary of State, as respects England, and National Assembly for Wales, as respects Wales.
105.The section confers on the Secretary of State, and as the case may be, the National Assembly for Wales the power to prescribe the details of the scheme. This power will be used to implement the scheme as set out in the White Paper Strong Local Leadership - Quality Public Services (December 2001). In England, mandatory rate relief will be available at 50% for properties up to £3,000 rateable value, and will then decline on a sliding scale as rateable value increases reaching no relief at £8,000 rateable value. In England, to qualify for relief a business will have to apply to the local authority declaring that it only occupies the one property for which it is claiming relief.
106.Section 61(7) provides that billing authorities in Wales may grant discretionary relief to top up the mandatory small business relief scheme in Wales.