4. Local Newspaper Relief
General principles
The Government announced in the Autumn statement on 23 November 2016 that it will provide a discount of up to £1,500 per year for 2 years from 1 April 2017, to office space occupied by local newspapers. The Autumn statement on 29 October 2018 extended this relief to financial year 2019/20. In a Written Ministerial Statement 27 January 2020, the Government further extended this relief to apply in the financial years 2020/21 to 2024/25.
As this is a measure for 2017/18 to 2024/25 only, the Government is not changing legislation, however it will reimburse local authorities that use its discretionary powers, introduced by the Localism Act (under Section 47 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988, as amended) to grant relief in line with eligible criteria. Central Government will reimburse local authorities for their share of the discretionary relief under the rates retention scheme.
The purpose of the relief is to assist local newspaper publishers as they adapt to industry changes from print to digital and maintain a local physical presence.
4.1 Key criteria
- The property must be occupied by a local newspaper title and used wholly or mainly as offices for journalists and reporters.
- The local newspaper can be chargeable or free.
- Only one discount is available per local newspaper title and per property
- Subsidy Control limits
4.2 Exclusions
- Local council newspapers
- On-line only publications
- Local magazines
4.3 Claiming Local Newspaper Relief
There is no application form. Applicants should apply for the relief in writing to the Business Rates Team confirming that they satisfy each of the eligibility criteria
4.4 Maximum award
The total amount of government funded relief available is £1,500 for each financial year 2017/18 to 2024/25 for one local newspaper title and property.
The relief will be applied against the net bill after all other reliefs.
4.5 Notification
Where the application is successful, a revised bill will be issued.
Where the application is not successful, the notification will provide full reasons for the decision and confirm the applicant’s right to request a review of the decision.
4.6 Requirement to make payment of amounts falling due
Ratepayers must continue to pay any amount of business rate that falls due pending the outcome of an application. The Council may apply its normal recovery procedures in cases where payments are not received