MORE senior Worcestershire figures have condemned a revamp of the way business rates are calculated which could see millions of pounds of taxpayer’s money refunded to GP surgeries in the county.

Councils across the county have written to the government asking them to review the changes dramatically cutting the amount of business tax purpose-built GP surgeries are eligible for.

As a result of the changes a number of surgeries across the country have made successful appeals against valuations made in 2005 and 2010, forcing local authorities to pay back millions of pounds.

Under the plans surgeries in Worcester stand to recoup a lump sum of £3.3 million along with £350,000 a year on an ongoing basis, while surgeries in Malvern Hills will receive about £3 million along with an annual £400,000. Those in Wychavon will be refunded a £3.5 million lump sum and £600,000 a year.

Although it is believed the lump sums will be retained by NHS England while future payments will be given to the area’s Clinical Commissioning Groups, which organise and pay for NHS services, Worcestershire County Council leader Cllr Adrian Hardman said he believed being forced to pay refunds dating back to 2005 was “unfair”, given local authorities were only given responsibility for collecting business rates in 2013.

“The county council are currently expected to pay nine per cent of all business rate refunds, which will have to be funded from monies we have prudently set aside for risk, he said. “We will join our district colleagues in lobbying the government on this decision."

West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has also joined condemnation of the plans and has written to Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Greg Clark over the issue.

“The change could have a major impact on (Malvern Hills District Council’s) budget and I have offered the council my full support on this matter,” she said.

“There is a process allowing the council to secure emergency payments from the government and I hope that this will be available to Malvern Hills.”

Before 2013 business rates were collected centrally by the government and redistributed according to a set formula as a grant. After this local councils were able to retain half of the business rates collected.