ALMR PLEDGES TO HOLD THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE OVER RISING BUSINESS RATES

By Victoria Trafford, Director of Business Rates

The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) has called on the Government to ‘act decisively and soon’ to alleviate increasing concerns amongst licensees about escalating business rates.

Businesses within the hospitality industry are bracing themselves for hikes in bills from April, and the recent figures released by the Government, which show that the amount of money raised from business rates is set to rise by a massive £845 million during the next 12 months, have given them little to be cheerful about.

ALMR PLEDGES TO HOLD THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE OVER RISING BUSINESS RATES

Licensees face the possibility of having to close their premises if they cannot meet the demands of increased bills. Pic: iStock/whitemay

ALMR chief executive Kate Nicholls has pledged to push the Government and hold it to account on its promise to reform the business rates system, which is still causing numerous issues to an already insecure market.

It’s good to see the ALMR taking such a firm stance on this as the industry continues to be hit hard by the system. The new Check, Challenge, Appeal process is still causing issues, and while only time will tell if it is a success, time is not a luxury that the majority of licensees have!

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