Issue - meetings

With the assistance of a report by the Head of Customer Services to review the Council’s policy for assessing entitlement to discretionary rate relief.

Approved the proposed discretionary rate relief policy for applications relating to 2010/2011 onwards; agreed to review the rateable value mentioned in the policy every five years on the occasion of the new ratings lists, authorised the Head of Revenue Services and the Local Taxation Manager to grant relief under the policy, agreed to optimise "Part Occupation" relief (S44a) in appropriate cases for a maximum of twelve months, subject to prevailing legislation on unoccupied rating, agreed that “Rural Rate Relief (S47) continue to be granted in appropriate cases, subject to the Rural Settlement List with a provision of 100% relief for rural post offices; authorised the Head of Customer Services, after consultation with the Executive Member for Finance, to grant "Hardship Relief" (S49) on the merits of individual cases; and authorised the Director of Commerce and Technology to deal with appeals from applicants dissatisfied with the determination made by the Head of Revenue Services and the Local Taxation Manager.

The Cabinet received a report by the Head of Customer Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) reviewing the Council's policy for assessing entitlement to discretional rate relief which was last reviewed in October 2005.

Having considered the information contained in the report, current awards and associated costs for 2009/10, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  (a)  that the proposed discretionary rate relief policy as set out in Appendix A to the report now submitted be approved for applications relating to 2010/2011 onwards;

  (b)  that the rateable value as mentioned in the policy be reviewed every five years on the occasion of the new ratings lists;

  (c)  that the Head of Revenue Services and the Local Taxation Manager be authorised to grant relief under the policy;

  (d)  that "Part Occupation" relief (S44a) be optimised in appropriate cases for a maximum of twelve months, subject to prevailing legislation on unoccupied rating;

  (e)  that “Rural Rate Relief (S47) continue to be granted in appropriate cases, subject to the Rural Settlement List with a provision of 100% relief for rural post offices;

  (f)  that the Head of Customer Services, after consultation with the Executive Member for Finance, be authorised to grant "Hardship Relief" (S49) on the merits of individual cases; and

  (g)  that the Director of Commerce and Technology be authorised to deal with appeals from applicants dissatisfied with the determination made by the Head of Revenue Services and the Local Taxation Manager.