Rate poundages for each local authority in 1984–85 and 1985–86 are shown in columns 1 and 2.
The real burden in terms of rates lies in rate poundage and not in revaluation.
What we have done will be of proportionately greater benefit to the ratepayers of authorities which set low rate poundages.
Increases in the poundage cannot exceed the increase in the retail prices index and businesses pay rates on a common basis.
Year on year, between revaluations, the poundage cannot rise ahead of inflation.
Another thing which has not been mentioned so far is that the acid test, in the end, will be the poundage—the rate in the £.
I think that this is the first time that the poundage has been raised since 1796.
It is not the valuations that make any difference; it is the rate of poundage.
