Stephen McPartland, Member of Parliament for Stevenage has teamed up with local accountants Wagstaffs to encourage thousands of local businesses to apply to have their Business rates reduced. The Government changed the law in April 2012 so local councils could offer Business Rate Discounts and from April 2014 local Businesses have been able to pay their Business rates over twelve months instead of ten months to help with cash flow.
Stephen McPartland MP has raised the issue in Parliament and said, "I am delighted that the Minister has given local authorities the power to review and reduce business rates locally. I have teamed up with a local accountancy firm in Stevenage to launch a campaign to help businesses to do just that. Will the Minister support that campaign, and does he agree it is ridiculous that many small businesses in my constituency pay more in business rates to Stevenage Borough Council than they do in rents to their landlords?"
Kris Hopkins MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, replied, "I know that my hon. Friend is absolutely passionate about supporting people in Stevenage and that he is ruthless in pursuit of the Labour council, which yet again has failed local businesses. I am sure we can offer our support to his campaign and those businesses."
Stephen McPartland MP added, "The main reasons for the changes were to give local councils the power to reduce Business Rates locally, spread the payments and help local businesses grow and employ more people. Sadly, Stevenage Borough Council are holding back the regeneration of Stevenage town centre because of their addiction to the £3.5 million they take in car parking charges, so they have a track record of not caring about local people or businesses. My campaign for 3 hours free car parking is getting massive support from the general public and this new Business Rates campaign is already being welcomed by local businesses as Stevenage helps to drive the economic recovery."
Mark Hubbocks, Partner at Wagstaff said, "Wagstaffs Chartered Accountants have been a Stevenage based business for over 65 years, specialising is supporting SME businesses and their owners. We strongly believe that businesses need to be able to reinvest as much as they can to facilitate growth, recruit and develop staff and maintain/enhance infrastructure to reach their long term goals. We also want to help stimulate further investment by businesses in Stevenage and the surrounding areas and make this a place to do business for the long term, just as we have.
"That is why we are proud to be working with Stephen McPartland on this innovative campaign to help local businesses and to make Stevenage a real destination point for future investment."
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