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<p>The Government is currently preparing guidance to support local authorities ahead
of rollout of the £1.5 billion business rates relief fund. The final guidance, its
specifics and level of prescription, will reflect considerations including the existing
framework of Government support, information held by local authorities and their capacity
to administer various parameters, as well as subsidy control considerations.</p><p>
</p><p>This discretionary relief pot approach has been taken to get funding to businesses
as soon as possible and on the basis of their actual economic exposure to COVID-19
rather than the pandemic’s hypothetical impact on property rental values. The alternative
of prolonged litigation and appeals through the Material Change of Circumstance provision
could have taken years.</p><p> </p><p>The Government will support local authorities
to enable ratepayers to apply for relief awards as soon as possible this year, once
the legislation relating to Material Change of Circumstance provisions has passed,
and local authorities have set up local relief schemes.</p>
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