Why aren’t some event hire companies getting the rate relief or grants that back in March the Chancellor of Exchequer said they were entitled to? Rishi Sunak made his statement in the Houses of Parliament that such companies with business properties would be eligible for rate relief in the leisure and hospitality sector. However subsequent guidance from MHCLG excluded these companies. The confusion continues as we now know of 29 local authorities who have granted the relief. We have been discussing this matter with our MP.

Yesterday Custom Covers’ Winchester MP Steve Brine asked Robert Jenrick Secretary of State for MHCLG (In the Houses of Parliament 16^th June 2020.) to clarify the position concerning why event hire companies aren’t getting the relief they should be ?

Hansard transcript can be found here:  https://bit.ly/3e7QwxF

Steve Brine (Winchester) (Con)
Back in March, the Chancellor rightly told the House that event hire companies with business properties would be eligible for rate relief and a corresponding leisure and hospitality grant. However, subsequent guidance from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government excluded those companies. Will the Secretary of State clarify the position—at present, neighbouring local authorities in my part of Hampshire are making different decisions for the same firms—or does he think that the new discretionary grant fund is the way to go? Right now, my local authority will do neither without the Secretary of State telling it that it can.

Robert Jenrick
My understanding is that the new discretionary fund would allow a business such as the one my hon. Friend raises to benefit from that. I know he has written to me in the past asking for further clarification, but I am happy to come back to him once again and ensure that that business has the clarification it needs to receive the funding it desperately requires at this time.

Good news, Robert Jenrick is now going to "ensure that that business ( thats us by the way) has the clarification it needs to receive the funding it desperately requires at this time".
We are still pushing for the 100% rate discount I'll keep you posted.