BUSINESSES in the Maldon district must not be made a “cash cow” to bridge a council’s funding gap, councillors have warned.

Maldon District Council is facing a £1.25 million cut in its funding from central government between 2015/16 and 2019/20.

Savings of around £1.04 million need to be found to close the budget gap.

From 2020 the council will be able to keep 100 per cent of all the business rates collected in the district under new government rules.

But at a full council meeting last week, some councillors raised concerns this could result in an increase in rates for businesses.

Sue White, who represents Purleigh, said: “We must not use the businesses in the district as a cash cow to support the council. If we don’t have strong businesses then we don’t have strong jobs.”

Richard Dewick warned businesses could be prompted to move elsewhere if business rates were set too high.

“Many will do what many have done already and move out and look for somewhere more business friendly,” he said.

Mark Durham said the council needed to start planning for 2020 when the government grant would stop.

He added: “We absolutely need to take very careful care with the businesses in the district because our income as a council is going to come from the success of these businesses.

“We are going to be keeping 100 per cent of business rates so we need to ensure that a, we attract new businesses and b, help current businesses to prosper.”

Councillors voted to approve the budget and council tax rates for 2017/18 at the meeting last Thursday.