ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) and SGF (the Scottish Grocers Federation) have issued a joint call to MSPs urging them to retain the Uniform Business Rate, highlighting the impact that it would have on convenience retailers if business rates were devolved.
Andy Wightman MSP tabled an amendment to the Non-Domestic Rates (Scotland) Bill in December which would allow local authorities to set the poundage rate and impose additional levies and supplements on retailers. Stage 3 of the Non-Domestic Rates (Scotland) Bill is scheduled to take place today (4th February) and will look at scrapping the Uniform Business Rate.
In a briefing to MSPs, ACS outlined concerns about the amendment, highlighting how it could increase bills for retailers and result in unnecessary complexity in the rates system, resulting in business investment and access to local services in convenience stores being undermined.
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “We are extremely concerned about the impact that abolishing the Uniform Business Rate would have on convenience retailers operating in Scotland.
“Local shops provide vital products and services to their local communities and they need support from the business rates system to be able to do this. Giving local authorities the power to set rates will only serve to complicate the system; having 32 different poundage rates liable to change at short notice could both subdue and delay investment decisions and cause uncertainty for local shops about their ongoing operating costs.”
SGF chief executive Dr Pete Cheema OBE said: “Scrapping the Uniform Business Rate would make it impossible for retailers operating across different local authorities to carry out accurate financial planning. This will have an adverse effect on investment decisions, job security and threaten the viability of many local stores. MSPs must send a clear signal about their support for businesses by voting to retain the Uniform Business Rate. ”
ACS and SGF were signatories on a letter from 27 organisations to MSPs, urging them to vote to retain the Uniform Business Rate.
