Issue - meetings

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reason for decision – as specified in the report.

Other options considered - none.

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.

RESOLVED:

2.1       That the award of Pub Relief of up to £1,000 to qualifying public houses in occupation of premises which have a Rateable Value of less than £100,000 for the financial year 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2018 only, be agreed.

2.2       That the award of Supporting Small Business (SSB) Relief to cap any increase in rates payable to £50.00 per month for those companies who have lost small business rate relief as a result of the 2017 Revaluation be agreed.  That SSB will be awarded for 5 successive financial years starting from 1 April 2017 and ending in March 2022 be agreed.

2.3       That the Pub Relief and SSB Relief will both be applied in accordance with the guidance provided by the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) in their “Business Rates Information Letter (4/2017): Spring Budget Update” which is contained in Appendix A of this report be noted and that the awards will be made to the affected businesses automatically and as soon as is practicably possible following approval by the Executive be noted.

2.4       That the creation of a local discretionary relief scheme, known as Revaluation Relief, as detailed in Section 5 of the report, be agreed.

2.5       That the Council’s Revaluation Relief scheme does more than the
            government’s national transitional relief scheme to further reduce business
            rates bill rises, with tiered amounts based on the size of the business, be
            noted. 

2.6       That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director of Resources, in
            consultation with the Executive Member for Economic Development, to vary
            the discounts and/or make individual awards of relief, if it appears that there
            will be unspent funds at the end of the financial year, which would otherwise
            have to be returned to central government, be agreed.

2.7       That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director of Resources, in
            consultation with the Executive Member for Economic Development, to adjust
            scheme awards proportionately or stop applications so as not to exceed the
            funding provided by government and to assess further awards of relief by
            reference to the sum that remains available, be agreed.

Reason for decision – to reduce the financial burden for a significant number of local businesses.

Other options considered – none other than as specified in the report.

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.