MORE details of plans to support hundreds of hospitality and retail venues across Barnsley have been revealed ahead of a cabinet meeting next week.
The £5m scheme, which was officially unveiled at a full council meeting last month, will see small businesses who are forecast to face a tough period have their business rates waived in order to save job cuts.
It will be funded through surplus business rates collected nationally and locally over the last few years.
The scheme will benefit a number of local businesses and market traders, though national chains who operate in the town will not be supported.
Nineteen tenants in the Glass Works and Alhambra who are currently in receipt of rates relief will also receive a rent reduction of 25 per cent as part of the programme.
While the same rent reduction will also be available for 77 indoor market traders and all outdoor market traders.
A report, which will be discussed by Barnsley Council’s ruling cabinet members on Wednesday, states: “Across the borough, there are approximately 2,750 properties that operate within the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors.
“A total of 1,600 don’t pay business rates as they receive 100 per cent small business rates relief.
“In 24/25 the remaining businesses received a 75 per cent reduction in business rates funded by national government.
“The government announced in its autumn budget that this would be reduced to a 40 per cent reduction in 25/26, whilst also announcing a number of other policy decisions that would affect this sector.
“It is therefore proposed to implement a discretionary business rate relief scheme which will award an additional 60 per cent relief to all businesses currently eligible and receiving the government’s RLH relief scheme.
“This means eligible businesses will receive 100 per cent relief for 2025/26 up to a maximum of £110,000.
“This will apply to businesses that are receiving the government’s retail hospitality and leisure relief at the point of the scheme’s implementation and any new qualifying businesses that relocate to Barnsley after this date.”
