Issue - meetings

To consider a report by the Council Tax and Business Rates Manager seeking approval of the Business Rates Discretionary Rate Relief Policy.

Executive Councillor: S Ferguson.

The Cabinet has approved the Business Rates Discretionary Rate Relief Policy effective from 1st April 2024 as outlined in Appendix A to the report now submitted.

With the aid of a report prepared by the Council Tax and Business Rates Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet noted that as a Billing Authority, the District Council had the power to set its own Business Rates Discretionary Rate Relief Policy in accordance with Section 47 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 and the provisions within the legislation allowed Billing Authorities to award various types of discretionary relief to qualifying local businesses in order to reduce or remove Business Rates liability.

By way of background, the Executive Councillor for Customer Services reported that reported that the Council recognised the importance of businesses to the local economy and the contribution that was made to the community by voluntary, charitable and non-profit making organisations.

The Cabinet noted that the award of discretionary rate relief directly supported the corporate priority of forward-thinking economic growth, and the policy look and feel has been updated to make it easier for businesses to understand and therefore access support.

The Cabinet agreed that adoption of a formal policy will ensure fair and consistent decision making, reducing the risk of legal challenge, which also supported the corporate priority to deliver good, high value-for-money services with good control and compliance with statutory obligations.

The Cabinet noted that the current policy came into force on 1 April 2023 with the aim of setting out the types of relief available to businesses for the duration of the Rating List which ends on 31 March 2026.

The Cabinet was notified that the Non-Domestic Rating Act 2023 removed a restriction preventing billing authorities from deciding to award discretionary relief more than 6 months after the end of the relevant financial year.

Members attention was drawn to the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel in particular the question from Councillor Kerr who praised the new format of the report and stated that it was much easier to read, a sentiment that had been echoed by the Panel.

Accordingly, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

that the Business Rates Discretionary Rate Relief Policy as outlined in Appendix A of the report now submitted effective from 1st April 2024 be approved.