Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen Plans Council Tax Rebate Scheme for Residents

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen has announced plans for a new 'tax rebate scheme' that would allow local residents to receive grants funded by a portion of the business rates collected by their respective councils. This proposal comes as part of a broader strategy to ensure that local economic growth directly benefits the area's populace.

Under the proposed scheme, councils in the Tees Valley region would be empowered to allocate a percentage of the increased business rates they retain directly to residents. Mr Houchen stated that the initial focus would be on residents in Stockton-on-Tees, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, and Darlington.

This move is presented as a mechanism to distribute the financial gains from local economic development, particularly given the increased business rates being retained by the region. The specifics of how the grants would be administered and the precise percentage of rates allocated are currently being finalised. The Mayor's office indicated that further details would be released following consultations with local authorities and a comprehensive analysis of the financial framework.