The rates are pooled by central government and redistributed to local councils according to the number of people living in the area.

This money, along with revenue from council tax payers and the revenue support grant provided by the Government, is used to pay for the services provided by:

1. Craven District Council
2. North Yorkshire County Council
3. North Yorkshire Police Authority
4. North Yorkshire Fire Authority

There will be one Business Rates bill for each non-domestic property.  The occupier of the non-domestic property normally pays the Business Rates.  If a property is empty, the owner or leaseholder will have to pay a reduced rate.

Where there is more than one owner-occupier or leaseholder, they will be jointly responsible for paying the Business Rates.

The Government announced today (Tuesday, 31 March) that it will bring forward regulations to enable businesses to defer payment of 60% of the increase in their 2009-10 business rate bills until 2010-11 and 2011-12. Please follow the below link for more information:

http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/localgovernment/pdf/1190988.pdf