WARRINGTON Borough Council handed back around £60,000 of unspent cash designed to help businesses to the Government, it has been revealed.

Local authorities have failed to hand out millions of pounds of revaluation business rates relief promised to independent companies in England.

An investigation by chartered surveyors Bankier Sloan and betterRetailing magazine uncovered more than £28 million in funds designed to help firms went unspent over two recent financial years.

Figures show the amount provided to Warrington in revaluation business rates relief by the Government totalled £364,398 in 2017-18, but the amount given to businesses in the town was £338,264, so the underspend by the council was £26,134.

The amount provided to Warrington was £176,993 in 2018-19, but the amount handed to firms was £143,544, so the underspend by the council was £33,449.

Therefore, the total amount provided to the council over the two years – 2017-18 and 2018-19 – totalled £541,391, with the combined underspend coming to £59,583.

Bankier Sloan says the Labour-run council gave back ‘free money’ intended for businesses in the town.

The council said it aimed to help as many companies as possible in a fair and transparent manner.

A spokesman added: “The four-year relief scheme was introduced in 2017 to support businesses facing large increases in business rates.

“We distributed approximately 90 per cent of the fund at the start of the year, with grants provided to all eligible businesses.

“The remainder was kept as a contingency to cover any new applications and appeal decisions.”

The authority confirmed it did not receive any new applications between 2017 and 2019, so handed back £59,583 to the Government over the two years.

Warrington South Tory MP Andy Carter says businesses in Warrington do not want to see the council handing cash back to the Exchequer when they are ‘crying out for help’.

“One of the key concerns from small and medium-sized businesses that I regularly hear about is the impact of business rates on their ability to compete against companies who don’t have bricks and mortar presence on our high street,” he said.

“It’s vital that where the Government is supporting local shops with schemes such as this, the council plays their part by ensuring the money is allocated to businesses in Warrington.

“They should take steps to promote these schemes to companies, maybe when they send out annual bills to demand payment, or through social media, so that companies in Warrington are aware of the support and know what help is available.”