Council Co-Leader Comments on Business Rates Relief Paper

Commenting on the publication of the Business Rates Relief paper ahead of Thursday's meeting of Aberdeenshire Council, SNP Group Leader and Aberdeenshire Council Co-Leader Richard Thomson said:

"The outcome of the independent business rates revaluation has affected many local businesses. It is important that we as a council respond to this.

"The Scottish Government budget settlement has brought very welcome new money to the north east which as an administration, we chose to allocate for this purpose in our budget which was passed last month.

"We've listened to local businesses, examined the evidence, and lobbied hard with the Scottish Government which has since announced a further relief scheme of its own.

"We are now bringing forward a rates relief scheme which will support over 1,200 Aberdeenshire businesses in the year ahead, and which is complementary to the very substantial range of business rates relief already on offer from the Scottish Government.

"Our scheme is a practical and straightforward response which will target this much needed £3m resource where it can do the most good.

"I hope that councillors across the chamber will match their recent rhetoric on business rates with action by backing this scheme on Thursday."