BROMSGROVE'S struggling High Street shops have missed out on almost £90,000 of vital emergency funding, it can be revealed.

A £435 million business rates relief package was announced in 2017 by Chancellor Philip Hammond - supposed to help businesses struggling to pay their business rates.

However, millions of pounds of that failed to reach the businesses it was intended to help, and was instead returned to Treasury coffers.

Bromsgrove Council was given £134,500 but only handed out £46,000 to ailing local firms.

It has given back £88,200, nearly 70 per cent of its grant.

Communities secretary at the time, Bromsgrove’s MP, Sajid Javid, promised “absolutely no delay” in allocating and using the money.

Labour cllrs Michael Thompson and Pete McDonald called the revelation a disgrace and are now calling upon the council to set up a cross party investigation into how the shambolic blunder was allowed to happen.

The pair said they will be calling for an investigation at the next full council meeting, set to take place November 21.

Cllr Michael Thompson said: “Despite a laughable attempt to enter Bromsgrove High Street into a 'High Street of the Year' competition, it is well known, with businesses leaving on a regular basis, that the High Street is in decline.

"The council’s dire financial position is well known – yet they give back £90k intended for business owners in the High Street to central government.

"This is all the more insulting given the communities secretary at the time was our own MP Sajid Javid.”

Cllr Pete McDonald added: “Rubery is also affected by the consequences of austerity and some business rate relief would have gone down well, helping businesses in Rubery who are also struggling.

"Bromsgrove has the money but never has the will to help people in the district.”

Cllr Brian Cooper, portfolio holder for finance and enabling, said: “The scheme was administered fairly, using the criteria laid down by the government.

"And contrary to the claims of the leader of the Labour opposition the council’s finances are in a good place as the external auditors recently confirmed.”