Lobby groups respond to levy proposal
Business lobby groups are criticising Government proposals to allow local authorities to levy supplementary business rates to fund major structural initiatives like rail and tram projects.
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) claimed such a system would be open to widespread abuse.
It said councils may turn to the levy to fund schemes which could be paid for from other budgets.
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said any such scheme must allow local businesses to vote on the proposed initiatives they would be expected to fund.
