A councillor has said he finds it “difficult to believe” that around a third of South Holland businesses eligible to get central government funding to partially cover a rise in businesses rates are yet to come forward.
South Holland District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Finance, Coun Peter Coupland is concerned that around £100,000 worth of funding available in this financial year to some businesses is yet to be allocated and could remain unspent.
Over three years the council has been allocated £300,000 to help local businesses over a three-year-period.
The majority of that money, £172,000, has been allocated for this financial year and must be allocated to businesses in South Holland or it will be returned to central government.
However just £70,000 has so far been spent.
Of 160 businesses who had the highest raise in business rates that were set by central government, only 100 have responded to emails and phone calls from the council telling them the money is available.
Coun Coupland told a meeting of South Holland District Council on Wednesday, January 17:
“We are finding it very difficult working with a lot of businesses to convince them we are saving them money.
“Out of 160 businesses we’ve offered the scheme only had 100 back for the allocation of £172,000.
“We’ve got to allocate it this year and it looks like we’re not going to, which I find difficult to believe.
“We need businesses to come forward.”
