Retail NI Urges Secretary of State and Councils Not to Hike Rates

Retail NI Chief Executive Glyn Roberts said:

 “It is regrettable that Belfast City Council voted through a rate increase of nearly 8%”

 “In England small businesses are getting a 75% reduction in their rates to assist with the Cost of Doing Business Crisis. Despite the UK Government giving Northern Ireland this funding as part of the Barnett Consequential, our local small businesses are unlikely to get a single penny of reduction in their rates bills with the money going instead into the Stormont black hole" 

 "Why should independent retailers and small businesses in Northern Ireland be so unfairly treated in comparison to their English counterparts?

 “We have written to all eleven Council CEOs and engaged directly with NIO Ministers urging them to not to excessively hike the Regional and Local business rates”

 “Energy bill increases, labour shortages, business rate hikes, inflation, and falling consumer confidence are all risking the business climate of Northern Ireland. Fears that many will simply go under in the next months without government assistance are keenly felt with this perfect storm of high business costs”