More than 70 pubs across the South Bucks and Chiltern districts will see their business rates slashed in a bid to support local companies. 

The two district councils have today announced they have put in place a business rate relief scheme for pubs, supported by funding from the government. 

It follows an announcement by the chancellor that £300 million would be available nationally over four years to support small businesses, including pubs, affected by the rate increases following the Valuation Office Agency’s revaluation of all business premises in England.

The revaluation meant some small businesses faced a hike in the amount they had to pay. 

The Pub Relief scheme will supports pubs with a rateable value of £100,000 or less and they will get up to £1,000 discount on their bill for 2017-18. 

In South Bucks 30 pubs have been awarded relief; in Chiltern it is 44.

The £74,000 cost of the scheme will be reimbursed by the government and there will be no cost to council tax payers in either district.

Cllr Fred Wilson, Chiltern’s cabinet member for customer services said: “This scheme is all about supporting local businesses. Using the government money available to us in this way is another example of how we are supporting the local economy in both our districts by limiting the impact of the recent revaluation exercise.”