The companies behind ‘Glasgow’s oldest music shop’ haven’t paid a penny in business rates for six years.

We can reveal that the public purse has been denied around £250,000 after a city council meeting heard the trading company behind Biggars Music Shop changed four times during that period.

Now trading as BGRS One Ltd, the company, owned by David Hutchison, changed its name from Biggars Music Schools in November last year.

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Biggars has been one of the stores affected by the inner Sauchiehall Street cordon, following the art school fire this year and has claimed public aid for its closure.

Mr Hutchison’s wife, Gill, is the spokeswoman for the Sauchiehall Street Inner Cordon Businesses group and has been leading calls for more funds to be given to affected businesses.

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But Glasgow’s city treasurer Allan Gow hit out during the full council meeting and has threatened to name and shame all companies who fail to pay their way.

He said: “Some of the shop owners who were screaming loudest for the council to immediately deploy public cash in their aid were among those who hadn’t been paying their non-domestic rates.

“One store, who make great play of their position as the oldest music shop in Glasgow, actually aren’t.

“This council has not received a penny in non-domestic rates from this store address for over six years and the sums owed to the public purse are six figures.

“Far from being the oldest anything on Sauchiehall Street, they are in fact one of the newest companies on Sauchiehall Street and this fourth iteration of it also continues the pattern of non-payment of non-domestic rates.

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“We’ve suggested that highlighting businesses who consistently avoid non-domestic rates liabilities should be introduced so that members of the public can see that information.”

But in a statement, Mrs Hutchison hit back, comparing Biggars’ use of different trading companies to those used by House of Fraser and McDonalds.

She accused Mr Gow of defaming Biggars and revealed plans to report the city treasurer to the Standards Committee.

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She added: “As I have not been involved in any of these companies I cannot comment on the remarks he makes other than to say that I believe it to be totally wrong for him to have made them and to reveal publicly private payment information about third parties of which I was unaware with the clear intent of damaging me and the good name of Biggars Music.

“There is no doubt in my mind that the malicious intent behind these comments emanates from the council’s anger at my work on behalf of the 55 fire affected businesses which has shone a light on their failings.

“They are deploying Trumpesque tactics rather than admit to their woeful handling of the disaster and is beneath the dignity of the office which they hold.”

A spokesman said: “The City Treasurer did not, at any time, mention Ms Hutchison in relation to this matter and it is unclear why she thinks he did.

“We are content that the remarks made by the City Treasurer during Thursday’s council meeting were accurate and that no personal data was disclosed.

“Like Council Tax, Non Domestic Rates are crucial to the city’s budget and support the daily public services on which citizens and businesses rely. The vast majority do pay their fair share – and it is vital that we all pay up for Glasgow.”

Described as the ‘oldest music shop in Glasgow’, Biggars’ owners estimated the cost to them was around £135,000.

Despite that, a new premises was opened in the Buchanan Galleries in a bid to keep the business trading.

Earlier this week, Mrs Hutchison bemoaned the fact that Glasgow had been “snubbed” in the UK chancellors budget while Belfast was given cash for its city centre.

Subway, NY Slice, Chocoberry, i-Café, Steak, Rattle and Roll, News 4 U, Bagel Mania, Vape, Biggars Music School, Campus, the O2 ABC and Wokway are still closed.