Leading business group urges Scottish Government to take ‘swift action’ to halt decline in Scottish retailing
A leading business group is today urging the Scottish Government to take “swift action” to halt a decline in Scottish retailing.
Derek Mackay
Educators warn school business rates plans ‘make no sense’
Scotland’s independent schools have blasted plans for them to start paying business rates, saying they “make no sense”.
North-east haulage firm reveals eye-watering business rates bill
Soaring business rates have “strangled” the north-east’s economy, it has been claimed.
Scottish Government’s finance minister pledges to consider Moray’s plight when making budget decisions
The Scottish Government’s finance minister Derek Mackay has pledged to continue work to examine fairer funding solution for councils.
‘New Elgin business park will enable town to compete with Aberdeen and Inverness’
Finance Secretary Derek Mackay believes a new business park in Moray will allow the region to punch its weight against Aberdeen and Inverness.
Council demands more money as governments look to fund Glasgow conference centre
A council chief has slammed the Scottish Government for ignoring pleas to help pay for a £333 million exhibition centre while considering contributing to a similar project in Glasgow.
Scottish Government pressed to deliver funding boost for Moray ahead of minister visit
A Scottish Government minister has been pressed to deliver a funding boost for Moray during a visit to the region today.
Nicola Sturgeon unveils radical reshuffle of her top team
Nicola Sturgeon wielded the axe yesterday as she delivered the most radical reshuffle and restructure of the Cabinet in the 11 years since the SNP took power.
Derek Mackay to consult on business rates revamp
Finance Secretary Derek Mackay said yesterday he would launch a consultation on a major overhaul of business rates within weeks.
Aberdeen’s council co-leaders hold crunch talks with Derek Mackay over ‘missing’ £1.6m
Aberdeen’s council co-leaders are holding crunch talks with Finance Secretary Derek Mackay over a “missing” £1.6 million in the council’s funding settlement.
Businesses could wait until next year to learn results of controversial rates rises
Hotels in the north-east could have to wait until next year to find out if controversial rates rises will be overturned.
Scotland takes its income tax brackets to a whole new level
Scottish income tax entered a new era on Friday as the system diverged from that of the rest of the UK.
Aberdeen City Council leaders claim Derek Mackay ‘misled parliament’ over city funding
Aberdeen council leaders have claimed that Finance Secretary Derek Mackay “misled parliament” in an ongoing row over government funding.
Firms facing “shockingly slow” wait for business rate review appeals
A north-east politician has claimed that companies affected by soaring business rates are facing a “shockingly slow” wait for their appeals to be processed.
Moray representatives positive following cash funding talks with Scottish Government
Political parties from across Moray have united to make the case for extra cash for the region from the Scottish Government.
‘Scottish Government must shift focus from Central Belt to help cash-strapped north-east councils’
Moray councillors will meet Finance Secretary Derek Mackay today to press for a new formula to calculate funding for local authorities.
Fishing chiefs accuse Scottish Government of neglecting processing industry in face of business rates rises
Fishing chiefs have accused the Scottish Government of neglecting the north-east’s “declining” processing industry in the face of a massive business rates bill.
Government urged to act to save one of Moray town’s few cash machines
The Scottish Government has been urged to scrap business rate rules which could force the closure of one of the few cash machines left in a Moray town.
Aberdeenshire Council between ‘rock and hard place’ with £20M budget gap over next year
A cash-strapped council will have to find £20million to balance the books over the next year.
Derek Mackay: ‘My budget protects public services and those who deliver them’
Finance secretary Derek Mackay has insisted the Scottish Government treats local government “very fairly” as he was grilled by MSPs in Aberdeen yesterday.
Aberdeenshire constituency facing ‘double whammy’ tax raid
An affluent north-east constituency will be one of the worst hit by the Scottish Government’s income tax increase, according to its MP.
Report warns rates relief cap not all it seems
Businesses in the north-east expecting to benefit from a 12.5% rates cap could still face actual increases in bills of up to 33%, according to new analysis of the Scottish budget.
Liam Kerr: SNP ‘break income tax pledge and squeeze councils’
The SNP manifesto for the Holyrood election last included a clear, unequivocal pledge not to raise income tax for basic rate payers.
13 key announcements from this year’s Scottish Budget
The Scottish Government's finance secretary Derek Mackay has revealed his draft Budget for 2018-19.
Claims Aberdeen faces “economic Armageddon” in Holyrood budget
Council chiefs in Aberdeen are steeling themselves for an “economic Armageddon” amid fears up to £35million could be cut from its funding package today.
Council hit by extra £1m rates bill – as it struggles to make cutbacks
Aberdeen City Council will shell out more than £1million extra on business rates this year following a controversial revaluation.
Investment in a “technological revolution” expected to be announced in the budget
The chancellor is expected to announce that Britain is at the forefront of a technological revolution in the Budget today.
Record number of smaller firms benefiting from rates relief scheme in Scotland
A record 104,000 firms throughout Scotland are benefiting from the Small Business Bonus Scheme (SBBS) this tax year, the Scottish Government said yesterday.
Scottish Government ‘passing the buck’ on north-east’s fish processors business rates woes
The Scottish Government has been accused of “passing the buck” and failing to support the north-east fish processing industry cope with controversial business rates rises.
Scottish Government “asleep at the wheel” over business rates issues
The Scottish Government has been accused of “falling asleep at the wheel” instead of helping north-east companies struggling with business rates rises.
Holyrood votes in favour of tax rises to fund public spending
Labour, Green and Lib Dem MSPs have voted in favour of tax rises to fund extra spending on public services like the NHS and schools.
Warning that fish processors face collapse if high business rates are maintained
A coalition of north-east fish processors has warned that the sector is on the brink of disaster unless high business rates are dropped.