Businesses in Pembrokeshire are being encouraged to review significant increases in their new rateable values, following concerns raised at a cross-sector meeting held in Saundersfoot.

Senedd Member for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, Samuel Kurtz has urged businesses to review their newly issued rateable values after the meeting highlighted widespread concern over sharp increases arising from the latest business rates revaluation.

The meeting, convened alongside local Saundersfoot businesses, and county councillors, was held at the Hean Castle Inn in on December 15; bringing together representatives from retail, hospitality, professional services, rural enterprises and the visitor economy.

Attendees shared first-hand accounts of significant rises in rateable values, with some reporting increases of several hundred per cent compared with previous assessments.

Discussions revealed that many businesses were unclear about how their new rateable values had been calculated. In some cases, attendees cited comparable properties that appeared not to have been affected to the same extent, raising serious questions about transparency and confidence in the current system.

It also emerged that a considerable number of businesses have yet to check their new valuations. Mr Kurtz is urging all business owners to act promptly so they can understand the potential impact ahead of receiving business rates bills next year.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Kurtz said: “What came through loud and clear is that many businesses have been caught off guard. Some are facing eye-watering increases and are now standing on a cliff edge.

“Others do not yet know how they will be affected because they have not checked their valuation. I strongly encourage every business to review their rateable value and challenge it if it looks wrong.”

Businesses were advised that reviewing valuations at an early stage could help prevent unnecessary costs in future business rates bills.

The meeting also raised concerns that existing Welsh Government reliefs and transitional arrangements do not go far enough to protect businesses facing sudden and substantial increases.

Following the discussions, Mr Kurtz has written to Mark Drakeford, Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Finance, warning that the current level of relief is insufficient and risks pushing otherwise viable businesses over the edge.

Mr Kurtz added: “No business should be punished by a revaluation process it has no control over. The current relief package is simply not enough for many firms, particularly in retail, hospitality and the visitor economy.

“Without stronger protections, perfectly viable businesses will be forced to make difficult decisions about jobs, investment and, in some cases, whether they can continue trading at all.”

Local businesses are encouraged to:

Further engagement with local businesses and professional advisers will continue in the coming weeks, alongside continued pressure on the Welsh Government to deliver a business-rates system that is fair, transparent and supports economic growth rather than holding it back.