evidence: Larne Business Forum has written to Communities Minister Gordon Lyons requesting an extraordinary audit of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s finances after a massive rise in business rates. [...] Larne Business Forum said it believes "unsustainable non-domestic rates burdens being placed on local businesses are undermining the very survival of some in the small business sector". [...] Larne Business Fourm also expressed concern over a £7.2m shortfall in the council’s finances saying that "we noted that no suitable explanation has ever been provided to ratepayers as to how such an extraordinary shortfall was allowed to happen".