In this morning’s meeting in City Hall with the Secretary of State, Belfast City Council and business representatives, Retail NI raised the issue of English independent retailers getting a third off their rates bill in the Budget and their Northern Ireland counterparts getting nothing.
The meeting also covered Primark, City Deals and the lack of a Government at Stormont.
Speaking after the meeting, Retail NI Chief Executive, Glyn Roberts said:
Responding to today’s Budget, Retail NI Chief Executive Glyn Roberts said:
“Retail NI broadly welcomes this Budget and we are pleased that our extensive engagement at Westminster with MPs and UK Government Ministers has successfully delivered results such as the £2m to deal with the Primark fire and the £650m Future High Streets Fund.”
“The £2m for dealing with the aftermath of the Primark fire is welcome, but more will be needed to deal with the long-term impact of this dreadful situation”
Speaking at the DUP Reception at the Conservative party conference, Retail NI Chief Executive Glyn Roberts urged immediate action from theGovernment on the Primark fire.
Land & Property Services (LPS) has confirmed that the online questionnaire to collect rental data for the non-domestic rates revaluation – Reval2020 will close at midnight on Sunday 14 October.
LPS is now urging those businesses that have not yet responded to return their rental data via the portal https://www.finance-ni.gov.uk/services/reval2020-before-you-start by 14 October at the latest to ensure their future business rates are based on correct information.
Belfast Chamber of Commerce, Hospitality Ulster and Retail NI jointly met with the Head of Civil Service, NI Permanent Secretaries and Belfast City Council yesterday to discuss further Government action to support the City Centre after the Primark Fire.
In a joint statement, Rajesh Rana, President of Belfast Chamber, Glyn Roberts, CEO of Retail NI and Colin Neill, CEO of Hospitality Ulster said:
“We welcome the investment Primark, Belfast City Council and Department for Communities (DFC) have made in the City Recovery Fund and the work that BCC has done to date.
Belfast Chamber of Commerce, Hospitality Ulster and Retail NI have welcomed Primark’s £500k donation to Belfast City Council's recovery programme after the fire.
In a joint statement, Rajesh Rana, President of Belfast Chamber, Glyn Roberts, CEO of Retail NI and Colin Neill, CEO of Hospitality Ulster said:
“We are pleased that Primark listened to our call to contribute to the recovery fund and we welcome this donation of £500k”
Belfast Chamber of Commerce, Hospitality Ulster and Retail NI jointly met with the NI Secretary of State today to discuss Government action to support the City Centre after the Primark Fire.
The Secretary of State met with impacted traders and with Primark staff and shop workers union USDAW.
In a joint statement, Rajesh Rana, President of Belfast Chamber, Glyn Roberts, CEO of Retail NI and Colin Neill, CEO of Hospitality Ulster said:
“This was a very useful and timely meeting with the Secretary of State”
The Chief Executives of Retail NI, Hospitality Ulster and Manufacturing NI have responded to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland’s statement to the House of Commons today.
Speaking from Westminster following their joint Parliamentary Reception with the Secretary of State, Glyn Roberts, Colin Neill and Stephen Kelly said:
“We welcome the proposed legislation to allow Government departments to make more decisions and we hope that the big infrastructure projects can now move forward.
Retail NI, Hospitality Ulster and Manufacturing NI have joined forces to co-host a Northern Ireland economy reception at the House of Commons. Over 200 MPs, Peers, Diplomats and local business owners attended the reception, which is said to be one of the largest ever Northern Ireland events at Westminster.
Karen Bradley, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Tony Lloyd MP, Shadow Secretary of State, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP and Paul Maskey MP all addressed the event.
