The Lincolnshire Guide > News > Council seeks to claw back business rates from Government

Council seeks to claw back business rates from Government

East Lindsey District Council is lobbying the Government in an attempt to claw back 25% of the Business Rates it collects from caravan and mobile home parks along the coast.

Each year, the District Council collects approximately £4m in Business Rates from caravan and mobile home parks in the seaside resorts between Skegness and Mablethorpe and under new Government legislation is asking for £1m back to support local services.

With the population of East Lindsey’s seaside resorts increasing dramatically during the summer months it puts pressure on local services and on the local Council Taxpayer who foots the bill.  The population in Skegness alone swells from around 20,000 to approximately 200,000 during the summer and with more families expected to go on a ‘Staycation’ because of the economic climate the number of visitors looks set to increase further, which is good news for our area.

“Whilst this is a difficult year for many businesses in our area, we have an opportunity with more people holidaying closer to home to attract new visitors and make our resorts stand out from the others.  We must ensure we capture the hearts and minds of visitors so they come back year on year,” said the Leader of the Council, Councillor Doreen Stephenson.

She continued: “We have been given the chance to put forward a proposal under some new legislation and we’ve decided to ask the Government for a quarter of the Business Rates from caravan and mobile home parks to be returned to us so we can invest more in our services and reduce the cost of tourism to the local Council Taxpayer.

“Financially, Local Government is going through a difficult time and we must do what we can to bring money into our area to support the services we provide.”

“Tourism is a vital economy to our area and employs lots of people during the main season and now out of season too.   It is important that we continue to attract people to our District to support our coastal and inland businesses.”

More than 100 Councils have submitted proposals under the Sustainable Communities Act legislation, which allows Local Authorities to put forward ideas that would enhance local areas.  It is not clear how many of the proposals submitted the Government will support.

Article Published: 19/08/2009

Latest News

• Lincolnshire pips Cornwall to be crowned Britains favourite food spot
• Skegness 4th most popular UK holiday destination
• Switch on success in Mablethorpe as thousands turn out
• Over 46,000 people descend on Skegness for SO Festival 2011
• Touring caravan consultation underway

• Spilsby Show This Weekend
• Lincolnshire road closed after package found
• LIncolnshire Guide Is Changing
• Festival Line Up Is SO Exciting
• RNLI lifeguards prepare to begin their summer patrols on beaches