Decision details
Discretionary Relief Policy
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: Yes
Is subject to call in?: Yes
Decision:
The Cabinet considered a report of the Chief Executive setting out the required changes to the current Business Rates Discretionary Relief Policy to reflect the new rate reductions announced by the Chancellor in the 2016 Autumn Statement and 2017 Spring Budget.
Resolved:
1. That the award of Public House Relief of up to £1,000 to qualifying businesses in occupation of Public Houses which have a rateable value of £100,000 or less in accordance with Discretionary Rate Relief powers for the financial year 1st April 2017 to 31st March 2018 only, subject to State Aid limits, be approved.
2. That it be noted that the businesses to qualify for the relief must be a ‘Public House’ as detailed in paragraph 4.4 of the submitted report.
3. That it be noted that where a ratepayer demonstrates their entitlement to the Public House Relief, the Revenues Manager has the authority to award the relief.
4. That the award of Local Newspaper Relief of up to £1,500 for office space occupied by local newspapers up to a maximum of one discount per local newspaper title and per hereditament, for the financial years 1st April 2017 to 31st March 2018 and 1st April 2018 to 31st March 2019, subject to State Aid limits, be approved.
5. That it be noted that where a ratepayer demonstrates their entitlement to the Local Newspaper Relief, the Revenues Manager has the authority to award the relief.
6. That the award of Supporting Small Business Relief (SSBR) to businesses who as a result of the change in their rateable value at the 2017 revaluation lost some or all of their small business relief, in accordance with guidance given by the Department for Communities and Local Government for the financial years 1st April 2017 to 31st March 2018 to 1st April 2021 to 31st March 2022, subject to State Aid limits, be approved.
7. That the scheme and amount of Discretionary Business Rate Relief, in accordance with Section 7 and Appendix G of the revised policy, subject to State Aid limits, be approved.
8. That it be noted that the Council, through the National Non-Domestic Rate return process, will seek full reimbursement of the cost of this relief from Central Government.
9. That the amended Business Rates Discretionary Relief Policy set out at Appendix A to the submitted report, be approved.
Reasons for Decision:
To grant relief to qualifying ratepayers and amend the current business rates discretionary relief policy to enable the granting of the new relief benefits in accordance with Central Government expectations.
Other Options:
The Council could choose not to grant the relief. However, not awarding the relief would mean the funding being returned to Government.
Note: This is an Executive Function.
Eligible for call in to Policy and Resources Scrutiny Committee
Executive Councillor: Moring
Report author: Joe Chesterton
Publication date: 10/11/2017
Date of decision: 07/11/2017
Decided at meeting: 07/11/2017 - Cabinet
Effective from: 18/11/2017
This decision has been called in by:
- Councillor Brian Ayling who writes For consideration by the Policy & Resources Scrutiny Committee"
- Councillor Ron Woodley who writes For consideration by the Policy & Resources Scrutiny Committee"
- Councillor David Norman MBE who writes for consideration by the Policy & Resources Scrutiny Committee"
- Councillor Charles Willis who writes for consideration by the Policy & Resources Scrutiny Committee"
Accompanying Documents: