State prepares to send in sheriffs to collect unpaid commercial rates

The government is pushing ahead with plans to send in the sheriffs to businesses who are not paying their commercial rates.

The country’s 16 sheriffs will be available to councils for the first time to collect unpaid rates bills from businesses – and they will have the power to seize goods.

Councils will be able to deny businesses certain licences if they have not paid their rates, and there will also be interest ...