A COUNCILLOR has called for a business rate subsidy to be reduced, with the savings used to help voluntary sector organisations facing council cuts.

Businesses can secure lower rates if they bring jobs to central Bradford, under the City Centre Growth Zone scheme.

Meanwhile, rate rebates and rent relief for voluntary sector organisations across the district had been facing the chop under Bradford Council’s latest cost-cutting drive.

After groups raised concerns in a public consultation, the Labour-led authority tweaked its plans. The council will now review the support it gives to each organisation to see if it aligns with the authority’s priorities, but has warned some savings will still have to be made.

Now, Councillor Ishtiaq Ahmed (Ind, Manningham) has asked whether another way forward can be found.

In a written request to council leader Councillor David Green, Cllr Ahmed said: “Would the leader consider offering a 75 per cent business rate subsidy to attract businesses to the city centre and use the £0.5m saving to maintain business rate and rent relief subsidies to voluntary sector organisations not only contributing to the Bradford economy but also delivering valuable support and services to vulnerable people?”

Cllr Green said the council had contractual obligations with the Government for business rate rebates awarded under the City Centre Growth scheme, as the Regional Growth Fund was supplying half of the funding, adding that the scheme did not offer a straightforward 100 per cent rate rebate.

He said: “We are required to award funding to businesses within the City Centre Growth Zone area and must also demonstrate that this funding is leading to direct job creation, delivering against contracted targets.”