Agenda item

That the Business Rates reliefs and policies included in Appendix A of the report be approved, subject to an increase in retail rate relief from £1,000 to £1,500 in line with the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement.

The Assistant Director Finance & Audit introduced a report which sought approval for the following Business Rates reliefs and policies which had been brought together into a single document:

• Discretionary Business Rate Relief to Charities and other Not-for-Profit Organisations.
• Rate Relief for Properties that are Partially Unoccupied for a Temporary Period.
• Hardship Relief.
• General Rate Relief.
• Reoccupation Relief.
• Retail Relief.
• Inward Investment Policy.
• An extension of the existing Business Rate relief policy for flooded properties.

The Cabinet noted that the Chancellor had announced an increase in the level of Retail Relief in his Autumn Statement from £1,000 to £1,500 and that the Council would be able to recoup this from central government.  This was agreed.  Many of the policies had been approved in the previous year and the Assistant Director outlined the key changes as detailed in paragraph 5.2 of the report.  The Discretionary Business Rates Relief policy had been tightened up to align any relief available to organisations which supported the delivery of the Council’s priority outcomes.  After due consideration, the policies were approved.

Resolved –  That the Business Rates reliefs and policies included in Appendix A of the report be approved, subject to an increase in retail rate relief from £1,000 to £1,500 in line with the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement.