Six local authorities have failed to provide business rate relief from government funds made available nearly a year ago.

In the Spring Budget 2017, the government announced a £300m discretionary fund for councils to distribute to hard-pressed businesses faced with higher rates bills, as well as funds to cap increases at £50 per month for those losing rate relief.

The Department for Communities and Local Government has published an updated list showing that two councils, Eastleigh and the Isle of Scilly, have not drawn funds from either pot. Nottingham, Rochford, Salford and West Berkshire councils have capped rate rises, but not offered discretionary relief.

However, the figures are an improvement on a list published in November 2017, which showed that 110 councils had not offered discretionary relief.

In the Autumn Budget, chancellor Philip Hammond announced that the annual indexation of business rates would now be based on the CPI rather than the RPI measure of inflation, which he claimed would save businesses £2.3bn.

In addition, following the next revaluation in 2022, future business rate revaluations would occur every three years instead of five.

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