DRAFT plans for big increases in business rates for Monmouthshire companies should be postponed, the county council is urging the Welsh Government.

Businesses in the county face steep rate rises - including some of more than 300 per cent according to a leading councillor - from next April, following the latest revaluation of draft rateable values by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA).

But the council wants a postponement to allow time for a thorough review of the revaluation’s methodology and results.

The call comes after deputy council leader Bob Greenland, council officers, and Monmouth and District Chamber of Trade and Commerce chairman David Cummings met senior VOA officials last week.

Recently-proposed rateable values are based on properties’ rental value at April 1 2015, and reflect property market changes countrywide since the last revaluation, based on 2008 rental values and introduced in 2010.

Cllr Greenland has now written to First Minister Carwyn Jones highlighting what the council fears will be serious consequences for many Monmouthshire businesses.

“While most council areas in Wales, including Cardiff, have seen net reductions in rateable values through these proposals, in Monmouthshire we have seen over 65 per cent of business rates increased, some hiked by as much as 300 per cent with a few even above that,” added cllr Greenland.

He pledged to continue working with Monmouth AM Nick Ramsay and Monmouth MP David Davies “to get a fair and just settlement for our businesses”.

Mr Cummings represented more than 3,000 businesses in the county with rateable premises at the meeting.

He called it “very constructive” adding that all parties agreed a joint strategy to work together “in the best interests of businesses badly affected by the rate revaluation.”

“This strategy relates to our approach to the VOA, as well as our dealings with the Welsh Government on transitional relief and on possible changes to existing Small Business Rates Relief,“ he said.