Thousands of pounds have been sent back to Whitehall by Gedling Borough Council when the cash should have been used to support businesses in the town.
That’s the claim from chartered surveyors Bankier Sloan, which has written about the scheme.
Their figures reveal Gedling Borough Council received £316,543 from the government and returned £29,471, which is 9.31 percent
When the Government changed the way business rates are calculated, it set aside a pot of money to help firms whose rates had been severely adversely affected.
Councils were given the money, and told to distribute it to business.
Any money not given out would have to be returned.
No council distributed all the money in Notts. Newark and Sherwood were the worst offenders and Mansfield the second-worst.
Speaking about those councils which have performed worst, a spokesman for the firm said: “We have despaired at moments over the last two years as councils across England have, in many cases, failed to alter their schemes in order to insure they spent the free funding provided by central Government intended to help local businesses.
“The funding was ring-fenced and has now been returned to the government.”
How did Notts councils perform?
Ashfield – Received from Government – £286,806 Returned – £18,158 6.33 percent
Gedling Borough Council received £316,543 and returned £29,471, which is 9.31 percent
Bassetlaw – Received from Government – £417,918 Returned – £80,930 19.36 percent
Broxtowe – Received from Government – £243,964 Returned – £83,386 34.18 percent
Newark & Sherwood – Received from Government – £518,964 Returned – £394,192 75.96 percent
Mansfield – Received from Government – £311,536 Returned – £129,982 41.72 percent
Nottingham – Received from Government – £1,630,261 Returned – £130,527 8.01 percent
Rushcliffe – Received from Government – £396,081 Returned – £27,293 6.89 percent
