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George Osborne: Councils to keep £26bn in business rates George Osborne: Councils to keep £26bn in business rates
(35 minutes later)
Local councils across England will be able to keep all proceeds from business rates raised in their area under new plans unveiled by the chancellor.Local councils across England will be able to keep all proceeds from business rates raised in their area under new plans unveiled by the chancellor.
George Osborne told the Conservative Party conference the move would see £26bn diverted from central government to local government. George Osborne said the move would see £26bn diverted from central government to local government. Councils will also be able to cut the rate.
He called it the "biggest transfer of power to local government" in recent history. Mr Osborne called it the "biggest transfer of power to local government" in recent history.
Councils will be able to cut the tax as the current uniform rate will be axed. The Local Government Association (LGA) said the move was "good news".
But the Government said only councils with elected mayors would be able to raise rates, leading to claims that poorer councils would be worse off. But there were warnings less-well-off parts of the country could get left behind in a race for investment, and concern the change could result in higher charges.
'Race to the bottom' Labour warned it could start a "race to the bottom" with councils competing to cut their rates the most.
Mr Osborne said the change, in place by 2020, would mean cities and communities no longer had to go to the government "with a begging bowl".
He said: "All £26bn of business rates will be kept by councils rather than being sent back to Whitehall."
Councils and businesses have called for a shake-up to the system, which was introduced in 1990 by Margaret Thatcher to limit the power of local government.
Shops, offices, factories and businesses currently pay a uniform business rate set by central government.Shops, offices, factories and businesses currently pay a uniform business rate set by central government.
Councils collect the tax and send the funds to the Treasury, which then redistributes them so that areas with fewer businesses do not lose out. Councils collect the tax and send the funds to the Treasury, which then redistributes them so that areas with fewer businesses do not lose out. Since 2013 local councils have been able to keep up to half.
But Labour warned the planned change would start a "race to the bottom" with councils competing to cut their rates the most. Central government currently takes in around £11.5bn in business rates and redistributes £9.4bn in grants.
'Regional inequalities'
Mr Osborne said the change, due to be in place by 2020, would mean cities and communities no longer had to go to the government "with a begging bowl".
Councils will be able to cut rates as the current uniform rate will be axed.
But only councils with elected mayors will be able to raise rates.
Gary Porter of the LGA, which represents local authorities in England and Wales, said the change would be a "vital boost" to investment in infrastructure and public services.
CBI director-general John Cridland said that if the change was a way to cut business rates, "then it will spur councils to take a pro-growth approach, and has the CBI's support".
"But this must not be a way to increase rates without the consent of the local business community."
John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, said: "Without the right safeguards in place it'll be the poorest areas that are hit hardest.John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, said: "Without the right safeguards in place it'll be the poorest areas that are hit hardest.
"We run the real risk of seeing the explosion of Tory tax haven councils, and it'll be consumers and taxpayers who are left to pick up the bill for it in our communities.""We run the real risk of seeing the explosion of Tory tax haven councils, and it'll be consumers and taxpayers who are left to pick up the bill for it in our communities."
'Safety net''Safety net'
A Treasury spokesman said it did not accept that the changes would mean a boom for London and the Southeast of England. And TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady warned "regional inequalities will get wider", unless safeguards are introduced for councils in disadvantaged areas with low business growth.
A Treasury spokesman said it did not accept that the changes would mean a boom for London and the south-east of England.
He said latest figures showed the biggest growth in revenue from business rates was in the East Midlands and Yorkshire.He said latest figures showed the biggest growth in revenue from business rates was in the East Midlands and Yorkshire.
The government also plans to introduce a "safety net" for any area where business rate receipts fall by 7.5%.The government also plans to introduce a "safety net" for any area where business rate receipts fall by 7.5%.
Matthew Hancock, a cabinet office minister, said the change was about "making the country work better".
He told the BBC that only cities with elected mayors could raise rates and "with the consent of the local business community".
The Treasury said the current grant, which distributes the rates back to councils from central government, would be scrapped by 2020.
The government put the business rates regime under review in December.