More than 80% of councils have admitted their high streets are home to a significant number of commercial units exempt from paying business rates The MJ and the Local Government Information Unit (LGiU) has found.

A study of the Local Government Finance Bill, undertaken by the LGiU and published in The MJ on 23 February, revealed that 59% of councils were home to 100 or more commercial units which did not provide the authority with business rates income – such as charity shops.