THE FORUM OF PRIVATE BUSINESS is warning small companies that they should query their new business rates bill if they believe it is too high. More than 1.5 million business rate bills are dropping into firms’ letter boxes over the next few days as a result of new rateable values, which are reassessed by councils every five years. Over average reailers’ business rates bills will increase by 17.5%.

POLICE in South Warwickshire have joined forces with forecourt security campaigner BOSS and petrol retailers to launch a new Forecourt Watch Scheme in the area, as part of a tough crackdown on criminals who target petrol service

stations.

CATALIST has announced the winners of its two IFFE 2005 Prize Draws. The

winners of the PriceViewer Prize Draw were Michael Morecroft of Padholme Filling Station, Peterborough; Rajni Shah of Star Filling Station, Milhill, London; and Kumar Sharma of Sharma Garages, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham. The winners of the Site Report Prize Draw were Paul Lewis of Lewis Forecourts, Anglesey; Philip Rutt of Woburn Sands and Charles Dodman of Smithy View Service Station in Wrexham.

THE FEDERATION OF PETROLEUM SUPPLIERS has launched a new award – The FPS Depot of the Year. The winner will have to show that they are the leaders in their field, setting the highest standards or making the biggest improvements in health and safety and other operating procedures.