Derbyshire: Cries to help smaller firms

The call has come from business leaders from around the East Midlands are demanding that the Government reform the ‘broken’ business rates system.

The East Midlands Chamber – which represents businesses across Derbyshire – has made the call as part of its 2015 General Election business manifesto. The chamber claims a fundamental overhaul of business rates would help local firms to ‘reduce the cost of doing business’.

In its manifesto, the chamber is calling on the Government to: “Undertake a root and branch review of the broken business rates system to deliver something that fairly reflects a business’s ability to pay.”

The document continues: “The existing system has resulted in the highest business rates in Europe and areas of the East Midlands where otherwise viable commercial space is left empty.”

It also states that all business rates should be frozen while a full review of the system takes place.