Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 22nd November 2018.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 22nd November 2018 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive from Members declarations as to disclosable pecuniary and other interests in relation to any Agenda item.

No declarations were received.

To consider a report by the Revenues and Benefits Manager seeking permission to classify Hemingford Grey as a defined area for the purposes of the Rural Settlement List.

(Executive Councillor: Councillor J A Gray)

Cabinet agreed to classify Hemingford Grey as a defined area for the purposes of the Rural Settlement List that would enable rural rate relief to be awarded beyond 1 April 2019. Rural Settlement list approved.

The Cabinet considered a report by the Revenues and Benefits Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which recommended that Hemingford Grey was classified as two defined areas for the purposes the Local Government and Rating Act 1997. Data from Cambridgeshire County Council indicated that Hemingford Grey’s population now exceeded 3,000, which was the definition of a rural settlement. This meant that rural rate relief would no longer be applied to qualifying businesses.

Executive Councillors were informed that by classifying Hemingford Grey as two defined areas based on geographical features the populations of the two areas would remain under 3,000 and rural rate could continue to be awarded. Having noted how this could be achieved, it was

RESOLVED

a)  that Hemingford Grey be classified as a defined area for the purposes of the Rural Settlement List that would enable rural rate relief to be awarded beyond 1 April 2019; and

b)  that the Local Government Finance Act 1988 Rural Settlement List appended to the report now submitted be approved.