Sir,
I would like to refer to Angela Walker's letter last week blaming Pembrokeshire County Council for business rate increases in Narberth.
Pembrokeshire County Council does not set business rates at all. They merely act as a revenue collector for Welsh Assembly Government. The business rateable value is set by the Valuation Office and is reassessed every five years.
The new rateable values set will come into force in April 2010 and these do show some significant changes from present values. The Welsh Assembly Government then sets the business rate multiplier which is used to calculate the rates payable. This multiplier has not yet been set and therefore no one actually knows what the final bill will be.
I accept that there are potentially some larger than expected rate rises in the offing, but to blame PCC for this situation is not correct.
Pembrokeshire County Council is actively trying to minimise the business rate burden on all businesses across the county and has lobbied WAG to that effect. PCC is committed to creating and sustaining a thriving and vibrant economy for the benefit of all.
May I respectfully suggest that all businesses in the county contact their Assembly Members immediately and ask them to help.
County Clr. David Pugh,
Kilgetty Begelly Ward,
Westwinds,
Carmarthen Road,
Kilgetty