Issue - meetings

Report of the Cabinet Member Finance

RESOLVED THAT

1.    a change to the amount of local discretionary revaluation support scheme for 2017/18 as set out in section 2.3 of this report and appendix 2

2.    the local discretionary revaluation support scheme for 2018/19 be approved in accordance with section 3 of this report and appendix 2

3.    the extension of the relief scheme for pubs in 2018/19 be approved to be awarded in accordance with the detailed guidance in appendix 3

4.    the Supporting Small Businesses relief scheme in 2018/19 be approved to be awarded in line with the detailed guidance in appendix 3

5.    the Chief Finance Officer, in consultation with the Cabinet Member Finance, be authorised to set the percentage relief level for local revaluation support in 2018/19 as detailed in section 3.4 of this report.

6.    due to the volume of cases, decisions relating to the application of these reliefs be delegated to the Head of Revenues and Benefits and officers in the Business Rates team. In the case of a dispute a reconsideration is to be made by the Chief Finance Officer in consultation with the Cabinet Member Finance.

The Cabinet Member Finance introduced the report which explained that at the Spring Budget 2017, the Government had announced three separate relief schemes to help business ratepayers facing large increases in bills as a result of the 2017 revaluation of business premises. The three schemes were Supporting Small Businesses, Relief for Pubs and the Local Revaluation Support Scheme and the report set out details of each. Approval was now being sought to award these reliefs using discretionary powers introduced by the Localism Act. The first two reliefs were to be awarded in accordance with the Government set criteria and would be fully funded and the proposed criteria for the Local Revaluation Support Scheme were detailed in appendix 2.

The Leader commented that the take up to date had been a challenge so he appreciated the efforts that were now being made by the council to ensure small businesses can benefit from the scheme.

RESOLVED THAT

1.    a change to the amount of local discretionary revaluation support scheme for 2017/18 as set out in section 2.3 of this report and appendix 2

2.    the local discretionary revaluation support scheme for 2018/19 be approved in accordance with section 3 of this report and appendix 2

3.    the extension of the relief scheme for pubs in 2018/19 be approved to be awarded in accordance with the detailed guidance in appendix 3

4.    the Supporting Small Businesses relief scheme in 2018/19 be approved to be awarded in line with the detailed guidance in appendix 3

5.    the Chief Finance Officer, in consultation with the Cabinet Member Finance, be authorised to set the percentage relief level for local revaluation support in 2018/19 as detailed in section 3.4 of this report.

6.    due to the volume of cases, decisions relating to the application of these reliefs be delegated to the Head of Revenues and Benefits and officers in the Business Rates team. In the case of a dispute a reconsideration is to be made by the Chief Finance Officer in consultation with the Cabinet Member Finance.