'Shire Council Co-Leader Welcomes Business Rates Move

Commenting on today's announcement by Finance Secretary Derek Mackay which further extends the support available to businesses following the recent revaluation of business premises by the Independent Assessor, Aberdeenshire Council Co-Leader Richard Thomson said:

"This is extremely good news for the North East. I've had a number of discussions with the Finance Secretary over the past few weeks about the impact of the recent revaluations om Aberdeenshire businesses, particularly on the hospitality sector. Mr Mackay has clearly listened to what businesses in the North East have been saying as well as to the strong case put forward by the council’s leadership, and has come back with a further tranche of support for business.

"This is a substantial victory for the lobbying which went on in public by the business community and in private by SNP politicians. It shows what can be achieved by reasoned argument rather than the sound and fury we’ve seen from the Tories, who have voted against mitigation measures at every turn both locally and nationally.

“Aberdeenshire Council is currently inviting views from local businesses on how best to shape our own £3 million local relief scheme. Today's announcement boosts what was already a substantial package of support for North East businesses and will allow us to assist more businesses across more sectors than would otherwise have been the case."