A PILOT business rates retention scheme believed to be pivotal for Surrey County Council to balance its budget has been delayed due to the general election.

Communities and Local Government Secretary, Said Javid confirmed in February that the county council had been in talks with the government, with a view to being including in a new scheme which would allow Surrey’s authorities to keep 100 per cent of the business rates collected in the county.

However, addressing the communities and local government committee on Wednesday, April 19, Mr Javid said the snap election has interrupted the parliamentary process and delayed the roll-out of the pilot scheme.

Mr Javid said: “The new pilots, particularly the two-tier authorities, as you rightly said we want to invite local authorities to apply for those, that would have required a ministerial decision about which local authorities get to try that.

“That clearly cannot happen until a new government is put in place, given that we are moving into purdah as of midnight on Friday. That doesn’t mean to say that pilots cannot take place as long as a new government makes it a priority following the general election.”