Issue - meetings

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, on an application for non-domestic rate relief.

          The Board was advised that under the amended provisions of the Local Government Finance Act 1988, the Council was able to grant discretionary rate relief to any business ratepayer. Significant changes came into effect from 1 April 2013 in the funding of non-domestic rate reliefs and exemptions, with the Business Rates Retention Scheme. It was noted that the Council was now responsible for funding 49% of any award or relief granted, whereas before, the Government fully funded such arrangements.

          A new application from The Cyrenians Limited had been received for top-up discretionary rate relief from 1 April 2016. However, the Board noted that historically, the Council had chosen not to provide top-up discretionary rate relief for national charities, and a previous application from The Cyrenians Limited in 2015 for similar relief had been rejected on this basis.

RESOLVED: That, under the provisions of Section 47 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988, the application for 15% discretionary rate relief from The Cyrenians Limited, be refused on the grounds of it being a national organisation.