Decision details

To update the Council's policy on discretionary relief so that more relief can be granted to ratepayers who qualify under the revaluation relief scheme.

The Cabinet Member approves the proposal relating to the relief in the document E3082 – Appendix D to Discretionary rates relief Policy – Revaluation Support.

The Council introduced the Business Rates Revaluation Support Relief scheme in 2017 and despite making automatic awards to all qualifying ratepayers there remains an amount unspent for 2017. Officers have contacted the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government and understand that awards in respect of 2017 made after the end of the financial year will be supported financially by the Government up to 30th September 2018. In order to use more of the funding provided by the Government for this relief scheme the rules must be amended so that the percentages used to calculate each award are increased by 30%. Granting more relief will be in the best

interests of Council Tax payers as it will support a diverse and vibrant local economy and is fully funded by Government.

Awarding a set amount to all qualifying businesses was considered in place of increasing existing awards by 30%, but it was felt that increasing the percentages of awards would support the principles behind the scheme of giving more help to smaller businesses who had seen a higher increase in rateable value because of the business rates revaluation.