Business rates reforms could result in the devolution of the highways maintenance capital grant; the integrated transport block; the bus services operators grant and see the highways self-assessment process abolished, Transport Network can reveal.

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) and the Local Government Association (LGA) have established a working group to discuss issues around the business rates retention plans for the end of the decade.

These private discussions have raised the prospect of certain grants and responsibilities being in effect swapped for extra income from business rates, to ensure local business rates retention is fiscally neutral.

A briefing document, sent out in advance of a meeting of the working group last week and seen by Transport Network, suggests the highways maintenance and integrated transport block grants in England could be included in the transfer.

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