Leaders from all Suffolk councils today called for the support of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to help small businesses in Suffolk to weather the current economic recession.

The Leaders have joined together to urge the Government to lift the burden of business rates, which are set to rise by 5% from next month. They are also calling on Government to reinstate the empty property relief scheme, which allowed empty retail and office space full rate relief for three months and 50 percent thereafter - while industrial space received full relief permanently.

Cllr Jeremy Pembroke, Leader of Suffolk County Council speaking on behalf of Council Leaders across the county said: "Suffolk is blessed with a rich mix of successful small businesses of all descriptions. We have many award-winning local companies of which we must be both proud and protective. We have been doing our best to support businesses and individuals during this financial crisis but we need the Government to take action - to put in place measures that will have a positive impact on our small businesses and the local economy".

He added, "We are all doing what we can here in Suffolk - by setting low council tax increases. We know this will have a positive impact on people's lives, but we need the Government to relieve the burden of business rates on small businesses and put measures in place to alleviate the pressure on them".

"In the face of a global recession there is a serious risk that raising business rates will either drive small companies out of business or force them to shed labour. The consequences will be loss of revenue to government and even higher rates of unemployment."