Yesterday marked the Government deadline for delivery of business rates software updates to local authorities.

Now the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is calling on the Government and local councils to confirm that updates are in place.

Department for Communities and Local Government CLG minister Marcus Jones set the August 21 deadline for Capita, Civica and Northgate Public Services last month.

This came amid delays to the £435 million relief package unveiled in March to assist firms hit by April's business rates revaluation.

The measures include a £300 million hardship fund to be allocated by local authorities, a £50 monthly cap on bill increases for firms losing rates relief and a discount for pubs with a rateable value below £100,000.

Delivery of the package has been beset by delays linked to the General Election, confusion about administration guidelines and IT issues.

Mike Cherry, FSB national chairman, said: "From speaking to local authorities, our sense is that hitting this deadline is going right down to the wire.

"Our hope is that councils have received the updates required to deliver the urgently needed support measures announced more than five months ago.

"We've had weeks of those responsible for business rates playing the blame game. First there was the shambolic roll-out of the hardship fund, then a disastrous new appeals platform and now hold-ups to discounts and caps because of old IT systems.

"It's time for DCLG and local authorities to get a grip and ensure fully revised bills are with small firms before the summer's out."

Ian Sloan, of Bankier Sloan Chartered Surveyors, who have an office in Moreton-in-Marsh, said relatively few small businesses in Gloucestershire would be affected by the situation, perhaps 500.

He said: "I expect all local authorities to have sent out amended rates demands by the end of this month. They will be back-dated and therefore ratepayers will not lose out during this financial year. It's all going to come out in the wash."

Picture caption: FSB national chairman Mike Cherry.