A PACKAGE of measures to help struggling businesses in Barnsley has been agreed in a bid to boost the borough’s high streets.
Barnsley Council will provide £3.5m in rate relief for eligible businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors.
This relief will help around 630 local businesses, while national chains will be excluded from the scheme.
Rent reductions of 25 per cent will be offered to tenants of the Glass Works and Alhambra – as well as traders in the borough’s markets – helping to keep costs down for small businesses.
During last Wednesday’s cabinet meeting, council leader Sir Steve Houghton said that the authority was introducing help ‘when the borough needs it most’.
“We know it’s a difficult period in the economy and for particularly small businesses, so being able to help them absolutely matters,” he added.
“People need to understand and recognise that we’re only able to do that because we manage effectively the council’s business, its services and of course its finances.
“We’re doing it at a time when the borough needs it most. Do we need to still do more? Of course we should – we’re not complacent.”
