Issue - meetings

The powers to grant local discounts are within section 47 of the Local Government Finance 1988.  To award discounts under this provision it needs committee approval of any scheme.  This report therefore seeks ratification of the implementation of the government’s announcements and seeks to authorise the Chief Finance Officer to implement these schemes so that officers can award these discretionary reliefs which satisfy the criteria set by the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) for these schemes.

(i)         that the retail rate relief discount scheme, which was originally agreed by the Executive on 24 March 2014, be amended so that a £1,500 discount is awarded to qualifying businesses for 2015/16 as detailed in paragraphs 3.1 to 3.4 of this report pursuant to the Council’s powers under section 47 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 be approved;

(ii)        that the scheme extending transitional relief for 2 years from 1 April 2015 for properties with a rateable value of £50,000 or less as detailed in paragraphs 3.5 to 3.9 of this report be agreed pursuant to the Council’s powers under section 47 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988;

(iii)       that the Chief Finance Officer be authorised to implement the schemes referred to in paragraphs 2.1 and 2.2 of the report so that the agreed discretionary discounts and reliefs in business rates can be awarded in compliance with the criteria set out by the Department for Communities and Local Government.

The report from the Strategic Director, Regeneration and Growth sought ratification of the implementation of schemes to award discretionary reliefs for business ratepayers which satisfied the criteria set by the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) for these schemes as announced by central government in the Autumn Statement of 3 December 2014 to come into effect from 1 April 2015.

RESOLVED:

(i)         that the retail rate relief discount scheme, which was originally agreed by the Executive on 24 March 2014, be amended so that a £1,500 discount was awarded to qualifying businesses for 2015/16 as detailed in paragraphs 3.1 to 3.4 of the report from the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Growth pursuant to the council’s powers under section 47 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 be approved;

(ii)        that the scheme extending transitional relief for two years from 1 April 2015 for properties with a rateable value of £50,000 or less as detailed in paragraphs 3.5 to 3.9 of the report be agreed pursuant to the council’s powers under section 47 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988;

(iii)       that the Chief Finance Officer be authorised to implement the schemes referred to in paragraphs 2.1 and 2.2 of the report so that the agreed discretionary discounts and reliefs in business rates can be awarded in compliance with the criteria set out by the Department for Communities and Local Government.