Council to go after rates from Down’s empty shops

Council to go after rates from Down’s empty shops

10 October 2012

DOWN Council is to begin the process of recouping £75,000 in unpaid commercial rates across the district.

A new officer, who will work closely with officials from Land and Property Services (LPS), is to be appointed in the near future.

Down Council is taking part in a new initiative with LPS to inspect empty commercial properties across the district and issue rates bills to their owners.

The exercise is expected to generate around £100,000, but the council’s participation in the scheme, which will require the new officer to work specifically on the project, is expected to cost £25,000.

Confirmation the new member of staff is expected to be in post shortly came at last week’s meeting of the local authority’s Building and Estates Committee.

It is estimated there are currently around 200 vacant commercial properties across the district.

The new officer and LPS staff will working jointly to determine the correct figure and then rates bills will start to be issued.