City Hall "does not have the power" to give Sandy Row a rates cut

Google Street View of Sandy Row
-Credit:Reach Publishing Services Limited


Officials at Belfast Council have replied to an appeal by Sandy Row representatives for rates breaks by stating it does not have the power to grant rates exemptions.

Belfast City Council is currently looking at options for a new taskforce to support businesses on the beleaguered Sandy Row.

In December elected representatives at a City Hall committee agreed a motion forwarded by local DUP Councillor Tracy Kelly looking at setting up a body with other partners to try and save the once famous shopping area, which now has less than 30 businesses.

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Earlier at a full meeting of the council, three workers from Sandy Row businesses gave a deputation to elected representatives. Two stated they had lost 30 and 40 percent of business since the closure of the Boyne Bridge and another stated the effects were “worse than Covid”.

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Northern Ireland is unique in the UK in that it pays what is known at regional rates, which go to fund public services controlled by Stormont, and District rates, which fund local public services run by councils. The District Rate is composed of the Domestic Rate for home owners and the Business Rate for business owners.

This week at the council’s Strategic Policy and Resources Committee meeting, council officials brought to the attention of elected members a new DUP motion in relation to a rates break for the Sandy Row business community.

The motion, again forwarded by Councillor Tracy Kelly, states: “This council recognises the difficulties that small businesses in Sandy Row are facing since the closure of the Boyne Bridge and the crisis that some find themselves in due to loss of trade.

“(It will) agree to look into a rates break to try and help them through this testing time of the Boyne Bridge closure, and recognises that some will not survive without this council's intervention.”

Councillor Kelly’s motion from last November reads: “This council recognises the importance of small businesses and the creation of a thriving economy in communities across our city.

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“It accepts that changes to infrastructure can have a significant impact on local businesses in the surrounding area. It agrees that businesses in Sandy Row have been disadvantaged by the closure of the Boyne Bridge as part of the Grand Central Station development and recognises the struggle of business owners in the area to survive given the reduction in footfall.”

The motion called on the council to look at options of re-opening the Boyne Bridge, creating a Taskforce, alongside the Department of the Economy, Department for Communities, Translink and local business owners, to explore how businesses could be urgently supported.

In the S,P&R report for the latest motion, council officers state: “It should be noted that the City Growth and Regeneration Committee, at its meeting on December 4, already considered a motion on retail business in Sandy Row.

“In agreeing that a report be submitted to a future meeting, that committee also requested that the potential for rates relief for the businesses be investigated as part of that report. This decision was ratified by the council on January 9.

“It should be noted also that, as the council does not have the power to grant rates exemptions, the report coming back to the committee will look at the possible options available to Land and Property Services.”

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On previous occasions the council’s Land and Property Services have been able to negotiate rates relief on behalf of rate payers. Councillors agreed to close the motion asking specifically for rates relief, as this was being covered by the previous motion.

At the S,P&R Committee meeting this week, Sinn Féin Councillor Christina Black said: “I am happy to agree that it is closed, so we can go into a wider conversation. We all appreciate the pressures faced in Sandy Row by businesses.

“I would like our eyes to stretch a bit to the west side as well, because there is a west side of Durham Street, there are properties and businesses there. There is the City Link business park, and businesses in Glengall Street itself, such as Grosvenor House.

“It frustrates me a little, that in terms of the Transport Hub, the eye is never towards the West and Grosvenor Road.”

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