SMALL businesses are being reminded to claim reductions in business rates to which they may be entitled.

Businesses occupying premises with a rateable value of less than £15,000 can claim a reduction of up to 50 per cent against their non-domestic rate or business rate charge.

Scarborough Borough Council's local taxation section has written to every business in the area that it thinks might qualify for the new relief.

During 2005, 1,904 businesses claimed the relief which amounted to a total saving of £994,000.

The borough council is now urging all of these businesses to ensure that they re-apply for the relief this year, using the application forms that were issued last week.

If a new application is not made, then the relief will not continue.

In addition to inviting renewal applications, the local taxation section has also written to approximately 900 businesses that have not yet applied to encourage them to take up the reduction.

So far, 121 additional businesses have been able to claim relief as a result of these letters.

Paul Cresswell, the council's head of financial services, said: "The council has taken steps to ensure that the take up of this relief is as high as possible.

''So far 72 per cent of the businesses we identified as having a potential eligibility have applied, but we hope that businesses will appreciate the importance of returning the application form for 2006 and continue to receive their reductions."

To claim for the financial year 2005/06, all applications must be received by September 30.

Further information about the qualifying criteria for the relief and application forms are available from the local taxation section on (01723) 232378.

Updated: 15:26 Wednesday, February 08, 2006