Failure to reform the business rates appeal system could result in councils being unable to fund vital services such as care for the elderly, fixing roads or collecting bins, the Local Government Association has claimed.

The call, which comes as Smith Square publishes its submission to the Government's business rates review, follows a deluge of appeals cases after a 1 April deadline was set for backdated appeals over the 2010 deadline.

In its submission, the LGA seeks to give councils the right to be named as interested parties on appeals so they can defend their revenue streams, and also asks that appellants be compelled to give much clearer reasons for their appeal.