Budget Council to benefit from new business rates rule

PUBLIC services will get a boost in the spring as Bristol is keeping much more of local taxes raised on businesses.

- Alex SEABROOK Local democracy reporter

Bristol City Council will get £280.4million income from business rates in the next financial year, almost £100million more than this year.Councillors are due to approve how hundreds of millions of pounds will be spent on public services from April until next March. This year there are fewer controversial plans to cut the budget for services, partly due to the Government's decision to reform taxes on businesses.

The council's budget was discussed by the strategy and resources policy committee on Monday. Councillors welcomed the extra money from business rates, but warned that demand for services such as social care was still increasing, keeping the financial pressure on.

Councillor Ellie King said: “There's a 30 per cent increase in core spending power. That has enabled the council to take off some of the more controversial aspects. It's a markedly different experience this year. It would be nice to see some acknowledgement of that. The business rates are what puts us in such a fortunate position.