Councils have hit back at claims over 'shambolic' delays in handing out Government cash to help small firms cope with business rate rises.
Chair of London Councils Claire Kober says she warned it would take time to distribute £300m announced in the March budget because computer software would have to be changed.
Following the budget announcement the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) accused councils of 'shambolic delay' in passing on the money.
Local government minister Marcus Jones ordered councils to make the payments by the end of June.
But Whitehall guidance finally arrived too late for many councils to change the bills already sent to some businesses.
Cllr Kober has now told Mr Jones: ‘In our response to the consultation on the new relief, London Councils warned Government this would take time to deliver as this would, rightly, require councils to consult on their individual schemes and to negotiate changes with software providers.
‘The biggest barrier to getting the relief out to ratepayers quickly is the time it takes to negotiate changes with software providers and the uncertainty over what the final costs will be.’
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