Issue - meetings
Business Rates Relief
Meeting: 13/07/2021 - Cabinet (Item 7)
7 Local Discretionary Business Rates Relief Schemes 
PDF 249 KB
Report of the Cabinet Member Finance and Assets
Additional documents:
- 2021_07_13_Local Discretionary Business Rates Relief Schemes_appendix 2_policy, item 7
PDF 128 KB
- 2021_07_13_Local Discretionary Business Rates Relief Schemes_appendix 3_retail discount guidance, item 7
PDF 139 KB
- 2021_07_13_Local Discretionary Business Rates Relief Schemes_appendix 4_nursery discount guidance, item 7
PDF 165 KB
Decision:
RESOLVED THAT:
1. The business rates Expanded Retail Discount scheme for 2021/22 as detailed in appendix 2 and the detailed guidance in appendix 4 be approved;
2. The Nursery Discount scheme for 2021/22 in line with appendix 3 and the detailed guidance in appendix 4 be approved;
3. The Head of Revenues and Benefits be authorised, in consultation with the Cabinet Member Finance and Assets, to implement any further changes in 2021/22 made by the Government to the reliefs detailed in appendix 2;
4. 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 reconsideration is to be made by the Executive Director Finance and Assets.
Minutes:
The Cabinet Member Finance and Assets presented the report, reminding members that the government had implemented a 100% business rates discount to eligible businesses as part of its Covid support measures. In its budget on the 3rd March 2021, the government announced that this would continue at 100% until 31st June, falling to 66% until 31st March 2022, and then down to 0%. The reliefs were a temporary measure and legislation was not amended, so councils were expected to use discretionary powers to adopt a scheme using government guidance. Details of the schemes were attached at Appendices 2, 3 and 4.
The Leader thanked officers for their quick and effective responses throughout the Covid crisis, which made a real difference for local businesses.
The Leader moved to a vote, where it was unanimously:
RESOLVED THAT:
1. The business rates Expanded Retail Discount scheme for 2021/22 as detailed in appendix 2 and the detailed guidance in appendix 4 be approved;
2. The Nursery Discount scheme for 2021/22 in line with appendix 3 and the detailed guidance in appendix 4 be approved;
3. The Head of Revenues and Benefits be authorised, in consultation with the Cabinet Member Finance and Assets, to implement any further changes in 2021/22 made by the Government to the reliefs detailed in appendix 2;
4. 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 reconsideration is to be made by the Executive Director Finance and Assets.