More help for businesses from SKDC

Almost 700 businesses in South Kesteven are to benefit from £17.4m-worth of rate relief to help them through the Coronavirus pandemic.

South Kesteven District Council has identified 686 businesses that are eligible for 100% rate relief under the Government’s business rates discount scheme.

Originally established in 2018/19 to help the retail sector, the scheme has been extended to cover leisure and hospitality and local nurseries. The relief available has also gone up from 50% to 100% and restrictions lifted on the size of businesses that are eligible.

It means the number of businesses the council can support has increased from 397 to 686.

SKDC Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources, Cllr Adam Stokes, said: “Thanks to the efficiency of our business rates team we have been able to respond quickly and apply this relief to businesses that have come under huge financial pressure.”

Businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors will receive a revised bill for 2020/21, confirming that no business rates will be payable for the year.