The Out of Towners
One element of Sammy Wilson's package is an extension of the small business rates relief scheme which should cuts rates for small retailers in town centres and make up the loss by introducing a special levy on big out of town shopping developments.
The idea has polarised the business community with the Independent Retail Trade Association (small shops) "delighted" but the British Retail Consortium (big shops) warning that this will "damage Northern Ireland's reputation as a business location and be self-defeating".
One sceptical property industry source suggested to a colleague that the out of town levy might never happen. The cynic noted that the proposal would please small business voters prior to the election, but might get bogged down in consultation at a later stage.
Bearing in mind the classic movie "The Out of Towners", will the Executive ever get anything more than from its out of town levy?
P.S. On the topic of additional revenue, the Regional Development department is meant to be actively pursuing legislation to allow for a levy on Belfast Port. But last month an executive from Belfast Harbour told the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s "Stormont Today" that this measure would require primary legislation for all trust ports across the UK. So this might prove a complex task for the department, requiring the involvement of Westminster as well as Stormont.
I'm 
Comments