Business ratepayers encouraged to have their say

The council organised a workshop for elected representatives to share their ideas on improving Northern Ireland’s business rating system.

Deputy Mayor Councillor Beth Adger MBE added: “Thank you to the Department of Finance for meeting with our Elected Members to discuss how we can improve our business rating system in Northern Ireland.

“Our Council will always do everything we can to support our businesses, and I would encourage them to take part in the ongoing consultation to ensure their voices are heard.”

Speaking after the event, Alan Brontë Director of Rating Policy at the Department of Finance said: “The Department is committed to listening to the views of businesses and organisations to enable us to understand as many different perspectives as possible.

“I’d like to thank Mid and East Antrim Council for a really useful workshop which was the latest in a series of engagements the Department has attended with councils, trade bodies and organisations right across Northern Ireland.

“With just over a week until the consultation closes I would encourage everyone with an interest in business rates to have their say by formally responding to the consultation so that collectively we can work together to ensure our rating system is effective and fair while raising the funding needed for our public services.”

For further information on the consultation visit www.finance-ni.gov.uk/business-rates. Deadline for responses is 11 November. 

Left to right: Cllr Danny Donnelly, Deputy Mayor Cllr Beth Adger, Dr Eoin Magennis Ulster University Economic Policy Centre, Alan Brontë, Director of Rating Policy Division – Department of Finance and Cllr Gregg McKeen.