Mark Drakeford AM, First Minister, has encouraged local authorities to exercise their discretion in considering business rate grant applications from the self-catering sector, and advised that he is not looking to claw the grant back from businesses which received funding before he changed the rules.
The statement was made in response to the challenge by Janet Finch-Saunders, Assembly Member for Aberconwy, during plenary as to how the Welsh Government can square the fact that numerous businesses are now having to meet tough criteria to access grant funding, whilst others in the same sector have not.
Commenting on the situation, Janet said:
“The process of allocating business rate grants to self-catering businesses across Wales is an unfair mess.
“It cannot be right that whilst some holiday-lets have receive the grant before the new rules were established, others who applied before the change in policy but are still awaiting payment, will now have to jump more hurdles.
“All self-catering accommodation registered for business rates have done so in accordance to clear Welsh Government guidance, so the problem of a minority of individuals potentially taking advantage of the rules for qualifying second homes is a historic one which the First Minister has failed to address.
“In trying to catch the minority out now, the First Minister has created a chaotic situation across Wales.
“I appreciate that local authorities have discretion, and I will be helping many genuine businesses try and make a case for that to be exercised. However, it should not have come to this, and the financial future of an enterprise designated to the assessment of officials across Wales who may well come to different conclusions on applications”.
ENDS
Notes:
COVID-19: AM calls for “a fair and efficient grant allocation process across Wales”
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Photo:
Janet Finch-Saunders AM during virtual plenary
