Issue - meetings

The Cabinet Member for Education and Schools introduced a report on a revised Discretionary Business Rate Relief Policy to reflect the budget reduction of £50,000 from 2016/17 which was approved by the Cabinet on 16 December 2014 (Minute 71 refers).

The Cabinet Member explained that the new Policy was aligned with Local Authority best practice and retained eligibility for non-profit making, charitable or philanthropic bodies that were able to demonstrate a benefit to the Borough and its residents as well as being linked to the Council’s priorities.  The tightening of the criteria within the new Policy would reduce the types of ratepayers who would be considered for relief in the future, such as those that already received funding from the Council, Housing Associations and those in buildings used for worship or the promotion of religious belief.  In respect of the latter, the Cabinet Member advised that an application had been made to the Valuation Office for certain religious premises to be removed from the valuation list.

Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Approve the Discretionary Business Rate Relief to Charities and Not for Profit Organisations Policy as attached at Appendix A to the report, which reflects the budget for 2015/16 and beyond;

(ii)  Note the potential impact of the new policy on local ratepayers currently in receipt of Discretionary Business Rate Relief;

(iii)  Agree the establishment of a Discretionary Business Rate Relief Appeal Panel, consisting of three Cabinet Members one of whom shall be the Cabinet Member for Finance, and authorise the Chief Finance Officer, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, to finalise the arrangements for the Appeal Panel; and

(iv)  Note that the necessary amendments to the Council’s Constitution to reflect the new arrangements would be made by the Monitoring Officer.