Business Rate Supplements Bill

I shall also speak to Amendments 39, 40, 46A, 63 and 66. At Second Reading, I expressed my concern that there seemed to be, perhaps understandably, some polarisation between the business community on the one hand fearing that the evil local authorities would rush to impose unwanted and unnecessary taxes on them, and on the other, local authorities fearing that businesses would automatically be against any tax simply because it was a tax, however worthwhile the project might seem. I believe strongly that it will not be like that. Indeed, any successful project for BRS could not be like that. The process will work, I expect, in much the same way as a successful BID works in its preparation—in partnership. The representatives of the business community will work with the levying authority in partnership to conceive the project and work out the prospectus, and by the time that is done I would expect them to campaign together for a "yes" vote if there is a ballot, or for a successful outcome to any consultation. Idealist as I am, I do not necessarily see this as one side against the other. I see it very much as a partnership working together for something that is recognised to be of mutual benefit and of benefit to the local area. We have to recognise that to achieve this is an issue of trust. However good the representatives of the business community may be, there will always be some businesses for financial or other reasons that are less happy. Amendments 38, 39 and 40 address Clause 6, which is about consultation. Amendment 38 would delete the requirement for the levying authority simply to think whether it was appropriate to consult, but would actually require it to do so. That is a necessary reassurance to a business community. It will be consulted not just because the levying authority wants to but because the authority must consult. Should levying authorities be reluctant to consult, for whatever reason, the knowledge that they are required to do so would encourage them in proper thinking from the start. If there is to be consultation the results clearly should be published, which is the purpose of Amendment 39. Similarly, Amendment 40 requires a levying authority to publish a revised version of its initial prospectus regardless, not simply whether it thinks it might want to in the light of the consultation. Amendment 46A moves on to Clause 10 and again would require a levying authority to specify charges—previous, current and future—as suggested in the amendment. Amendment 63 relates to Clause 29 and requires consultation before regulations are made. Amendment 66 similarly inserts regulations about ballots. The amendments, particularly the first three, would go a considerable way towards the reassurance that we have been talking about for quite a part of this afternoon in making clear to levying authorities what is expected of them and, similarly, giving some reassurance to the business community of what it may expect—that the consultation will take place not because a levying authority thinks it may be appropriate, but because it is appropriate in all circumstances. I beg to move.