Please find below the latest response from the valuation office and a letter from Dr. Therese Coffey regarding her progress:
Dear
Dr Coffey
Hamilton Rd Felixstowe – Increases in assessments
It
was very good to meet you on Monday with our Minister, David Gauke MP, and to
be able to discuss your concerns about the changes the VOA have made to the
Rating assessments on the shops on Hamilton Road and the impact that this is having
on the businesses affected.
At
the meeting on Monday I undertook to clarify the situation in respect of what
assistance may be available from the Billing Authority (BA) for the ratepayers
affected.
We
have now spoken to the BA and they have confirmed that they will look
sympathetically at any requests from businesses to spread the payments of
backdated liability.
BAs also have discretionary powers under Section 49 of
the Local Government Finance Act 1988 to reduce or remit rates where the
ratepayer would sustain hardship if the authority did not do so and it
is reasonable for the authority to do so having regard to the interests of
persons subject to council tax - this relief is part funded by the BA via
Council Tax. Government guidance is that reduction or remission of rates on
grounds of hardship should be the exception rather than the rule .The BA would
require clear documentary evidence such as copies of the accounts.
I trust this is helpful, but if you have any further
questions please do not hesitate to contact me directly.
Yours sincerely
Niall Walsh
Chief Operations Officer & Chief Valuer
Valuation Office Agency
Letter from Therese Coffey:
20 December 2011
I finally had my meeting with the Minister which was not fruitful. I had been awaiting a formal note from one of the officials after the meeting. I did not see it until I returned from a trip with my select committee.
It holds out the realistic proposition of extended repayment terms and the outside chance ofdiscounts but I do not hold out any hope for the latter. Essentially, broad sympathy existed but the VOA and the Minister are not prepared to take collective action covering every business in Felixstowe High Street.
As I see it, there are three courses of action that remain.
i) I am happy to send a letter of support on behalf of any business that is applying to the
Valuation Tribunal. Please advise your members to contact me on this.
ii) I can approach Suffolk Coastal District Council with the letter attached to flag up the
possibility of a selective rates reduction, though I don’t anticipate success.
iii) Evidence continues to be gathered on matters that can affect business rates – as laid out in the previous note ... new rental assessments, evidence of drop in trade that is common to the close area and not just economic downturn.
I am disappointed by the outcome but hope that, by offering to write individually in support of businesses, I can extend further help to Felixstowe retailers at this difficult time.
