Local Government Committee, 27 Oct 1999

Meeting date: Wednesday, October 27, 1999

Official Report 173KB pdf

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Rating Revaluation

Eugene, do you wish to say anything about the rating revaluation inquiry? Has the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities replied to you on that matter?

No, it has not. The short paper on the rating revaluation outlines how we propose to handle the inquiry. The objective is to get the issues out in the open, and it will then be for the committee to take a view on how it wishes to proceed.

I know that many small businesses in particular hold the view that the rates burden should be shifted from small businesses to larger ones, by taking into account the profit-making element. In the light of that, can the Forum of Private Business be approached to give evidence?

We have not approached it so far.

I see.

The forum has been mentioned a number of times. If the committee wants to hear from the forum, we can arrange that. I suggest that there is not enough time at next week's meeting to do that, given that those who are attending need approximately 40 minutes to present their cases. If the committee wishes to include the forum, we could rejig the programme to include it, or we could arrange to hear from it at a later date.

I am meeting representatives of the forum for a couple of hours on the morning of the meeting, so they will be here. We should also hear the opposite perspective from the Scottish Retail Consortium, which represents larger enterprises in Scotland. In order to get the full picture, it would be appropriate to hear from larger businesses as well as smaller and medium ones.

I acknowledge your points, but if we keep adding to the agenda, we will need to have two meetings.

Our investigation is a narrow one. We are not seeking the views of groups that hold entirely different opinions on changes to the business rate. If the issue is raised with regard to a particular area, for example, Glasgow, we may contact relevant groups, but that is not what our investigations are setting out to do. We have a narrow focus with regard to the groups that we are inviting along.

The Federation of Small Businesses and the Forum of Private Business both have interesting but rival schemes for how to deliver lower rates for small businesses. They could both submit their information on paper. In many cases, the issues can be explained briskly on paper and there is no need for a long spiel.

I am signed on for their agenda but, in fairness, we should hear from bigger businesses that might be asked to pay more so that the smaller businesses could pay less. It will be fair to give them an opportunity to put their case.

If you look at page 2, CBI Scotland will represent the larger businesses and it is coming. I will discuss this with the clerk. If we cannot adjust the timetable, we can ask for a short written submission. I am aware that there is little room in the programme up until Christmas, as we have visits and a bill that we must examine. Are members content to leave the issue with me and to let me discuss it with the clerks?

Members indicated agreement.

Bristow, what has happened about the Glasgow visit?

I am free for the Glasgow visit.

That is good.