Developments in Cricket Club business rates

ECB looking into effects on Recreational Cricket

The cost of business rates has long been an issue for cricket clubs but some help has been available:

• some Local Authorities have granted discretionary relief which may have been as high as 100% in some cases
• clubs which are registered as CASC’s are given 80% mandatory relief which costs the Local Authority nothing since is borne out of Central Government resources

There have been two recent developments which may increase the business rates paid by a cricket club:

• there have been instances where Local Authorities have removed discretionary rate relief
• a business rate review is being undertaken by Local Authorities with new rating values applying from April 2010. Every club which is liable to pay rates should have received notice of the new rating value.

These developments have the potential to significantly increase rates bills.  The ECB would like to gauge whether as a result there will be a significant increase in rates costs for the Recreational Game nationally.

Please e-mail dave.leighton@ecb.co.uk with details if your club is facing major changes in its rates bill for 2010 as a consequence of either of the above.