The Government has ordered companies hired by councils to calculate rates relief allocation by August 21, so funds can be given out by early September.

However, an investigation by Retail Express discovered that many councils will still be unable to hand out the funds as they await approval from local cabinets.

For example, a spokesperson from Charnwood council in Leicestershire told Retail Express that it was “planning to take a report to Cabinet in October”.

Hitting out at councils, a spokesperson for the Department for Communities and Local Government told Retail Express: “It’s unacceptable that some councils are not acting quickly enough.” But the Chair of London Councils Claire Kober said the DCLG’s “lack of clarity”, “underfunding” and “eleventh-hour response” caused the delays.