Bradford Chamber of Commerce today reaffirmed its opposition to any plans to re-localise business rates.

The Chamber, which represents more than 1,000 Bradford companies, said the Uniform Business Rate (UBR) - under which rates are set nationally - had provided more stability and accountability since it was introduced in 1990 after high spending by some councils.

An inquiry led by Sir Michael Lyons is looking into the way local government is funded and many councils have called for re-localisation of business rates. It has been claimed that would give them more flexibility to tailor programmes for their particular areas and increase local decision-making.

But the Chamber warned the change could be a burden on business and slow down local regeneration programmes. It rejected what it called an "implication" in national press reports that business organisations were not accurately representing the views of their members. Bradford Chamber said it had frequently consulted members on the issue.

Roland Clark, Chamber president and a partner with accountants Horwath Clark Whitehill, said: "We understand why local authorities would want to press for a change and have said to the Lyons Inquiry that we support localised decision-making.

"But there remains a strong fear factor. Businesses already contribute significantly, financially and in other ways, and, in the past, there has been an absence of due regard towards business needs. Without checks and balances against a return to the bad old days, we feel it better to keep the status quo."

Councillor Simon Cooke, Bradford Council's portfolio holder for economy, said the Council had no formal position on the matter. But he thought reversion to localised rates would be bad for Bradford, currently a net beneficiary of the system.

"I fear some local authorities would take advantage of the fact that businesses do not have a vote to tax them," he said.