Retailers should only pay for local authority services they use in the running of their business, a senior industry figure has suggested ahead of a new report. 

Bill Grimsey, former Iceland boss, made the comments in an exclusive interview to RN in the week he announced a sequel to 2013's Grimsey report on the future of the high street.

Mr Grimsey said: "This time we're going to hit the big subjects like business rates. Businesses should only be paying for the additional services that, being a business, they demand. Instead, business rates are being used as a tax to bolster budget gaps."

The new review is due to be released in July to coincide with the Local Authority Annual Conference and Exhibition and Mr Grimsey is once again bringing together a team of experts in planning, funding and local government to complete it. 

Although a number of ideas gained some political traction when the original report was released, Mr Grimsey said favoured policies such as a widespread 2hr free parking policy and support for a taxation system that recognises a business's contribution to local communities was now "sorely needed".

Click here to read RN's exclusive interview with Bill Grimsey