§ Viscount Dilhorneasked Her Majesty's Government:
What effect the new business rating system will have on the rate bills for sports facilities.
§ Lord HeskethContrary to the impression given recently in the press, the great majority of sports facilities will attract lower rate bills in real terms as a result of the introduction of the uniform business rate and the non-domestic revaluation.
There are 25,331 properties included in the category of sports grounds, sports stadia, playing fields and club houses in England in the draft rating lists deposited with charging authorities on 20th December. In 1990/91 average rate bills for these, including inflation but before transition, will increase by just 2–5 per cent. This is a fall of about 5 per cent. in real terms.
187WACertain kinds of facilities, many provided primarily on a commercial basis, will attract larger rises. There are 3,272 properties in the category of golf courses, swimming pools and tennis courts. Average rate bills for these facilities will rise by 20–5 per cent. and those for leisure and sports centres, of which there are 2,015 properties, by 30 per cent., again including inflation but before transition.
These figures take no account of rate relief: local authorities will continue to have discretion to grant up to 100 per cent. rate relief on property occupied by non-profit making bodies. Seventy-five per cent. of the cost of any relief given is borne by the national non-domestic rate pool. We have given authorities guidance on the criteria they should use in considering applications for relief.