Issue - meetings

A report is attached on Council Tax and Business Rate Liability for Student Accommodation.

Ian Savigar, Divisional Director for Customer Services introduced the report.

Panel members made the following points and asked the following questions:

In response to a query from Councillor Barrett, the officer explained that those with a student exemption are all those on a qualifying course.

There was some discussion around charging students in language schools but it was noted that they are sometimes only attending for a short time.

Councillor Gerrish asked if there is a process to identify a student who has graduated but remains in place. The officer stated that these details are crossed checked as when the qualifying course ends the exemption ends and they will be issued with a revised bill.

Councillor Furse stated that there is a significant student population in the area but the authority does not gain any help with its services. He suggested that there should be some recognition of the impact.

The Panel RESOLVED unanimously to support the points in the Council motion of November 2014 and refer the following to the Cabinet Member for Finance and Efficiency, Councillor Charles Gerrish for his consideration:

·  Ask our MPs to lobby their party in Government for changes in the current legislation;

·  Write to Central Government to have the legislation changed on student exemptions to either:

1.  Consider a Council Tax levy;

2.  Return to concession compensation;

3.  Council Tax levy on Universities/providers.

·  Write to all other University Cities asking them to lobby their MPs for changes in the legislation as they too are being affected in the same way as BANES.