Small business leaders have renewed their concerns over the new business rates supplement. British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) warned the squeeze on firms resulting from the credit crunch meant now was the wrong time to give councils new powers to levy extra charges on local firms. Local government minister, John Healey, had called for councils to be allowed to retain more of the tax revenue generated by growth. But David Frost, director general of the BCC, said: ‘With a slowing economy, the last thing businesses want is authorities using powers to dip into the pockets of hard-pressed companies.'
