A CAIRNEYHILL garden centre has hit out at Fife Council’s commitment to a business rates review after seeing an £800 rise in their payment this year.

Ian McDonald, of Fairleys Garden Centre, contacted the Press following depute leader Lesley Laird calling on firms to have their say on the Scottish Government’s planned review of business rates.

Among the proposals are a reduction in non-domestic rates, empty property relief and an increase in the large firms supplement from 1.3p to 2.6p in the pound.

Councillor Laird said ministers must ensure the overhaul “helps, rather than hinders” Fife businesses to grow and create jobs and that it was important for firms to think about the impact of the changes.

Business rates (also called non-domestic rates) are a tax on the business property to help pay for local council services. They are based on the property and generally do not reflect the turnover or profits of the business, and have long been cited as the reason for so many empty properties in Dunfermline town centre.

Fairleys already pays more than £25,000 in business rates and Mr McDonald questioned what businesses were getting in return.

He told the Press: “We’re classed as a ‘large business’ and our property rate has gone up from 0.493 per cent to 0.51 per cent.

“If rates have not gone up as the Scottish Government says, where did this £800 come from? We’re going to have to find that money to pay for nothing. Fife Council also charges us to collect recycled cardboard, plastic and food refuse on top of the business rates.

“We’re charged every time our skip is emptied, which is about six or seven times a year.

“It costs us £240-260 each time. The last time, it cost £390.

“Now, for the same services, we have to pay another £800. We’ll have to find that money to pay them more to give us less.

“We’ve been told the price for collecting plastic and glass has gone up because the market for recycling has fallen out. There’s not as much value in collecting it, so they’ve put their prices up.

"If this was an electricity or phone company, I could get another quote elsewhere, but you don’t have a choice in this.”

Mr McDonald said other businesses in West Fife would also be feeling the pinch.

He added: “Fife Council says it’s trying to encourage rate reduction – that’s not rate reduction to me.

“Fife Council should be encouraging businesses to start up and stay in business and get more shops to stay in the High Street.

“How many businesses in Dunfermline are affected by the same situation? We’re a family business trying to stay in business in this economic climate – we need help, not discouragement.”

Elaine Doyle, revenues team leader, said: “Non-domestic rates are based on figures set by the Scottish Government. These are calculated on a ‘rate poundage’ scale with an additional supplement for properties that have a rateable value exceeding £35,000.

“Both of these rates have increased. As Fairleys Garden Centre exceeds this threshold they are subject to this additional supplement.

“Fife Council is currently gathering views of companies on key issues to help us to understand how these changes will affect the local business community”.

To comment on the business rates review, log on to www.fifedirect.org.uk/businessratesconsultation.