Mayor Mike Starkie has met with Sajid Javid, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, at the House of Commons to bid for Copeland’s place on a business rates pilot scheme.
Currently, a local authority collects the rates in its area but they are forwarded to a central pool for national redistribution. The government has made it known that from 2020, local authorities will be able to keep all rates collected, and a number will be selected to take part earlier than others as the scheme is piloted ahead of the roll-out.
“This would be a massive dividend for Copeland, given the huge rates paid by the nuclear industry,” said Mr Starkie.
“I was pleased to be able to speak to Mr Javid personally and impress to him that Copeland would be an excellent candidate for the pilot scheme.”
Mr Javid has now asked Copeland Council to prepare a full business case.
Mr Starkie added: “Copeland has many challenges ahead as we continue to get our area ready for impending investment. Being part of the pilot will mean that we can get on with some of those works without the shackles of our existing very tight finances.”
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