Cabinet resolved:
(i) To approve the creation of a business rates pool with the London Borough of Havering, Thurrock Council and Basildon District Council from 1 April 2014;
(ii) To delegate authority to the Chief Finance Officer, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, to agree the operational details of the pooling arrangements with the participating councils; and
(iii) To authorise the Chief Finance Officer, in consultation with the Head of Legal and Democratic Services, to make any amendments to the draft Memorandum of Understanding, attached at Appendix A to the report, as may be required by the Secretary of State, and to enter into the final Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of the Council.