Issue - meetings

Background:

This report detailed the Government consultation that had been commenced on 1 July 2016 on proposals for local authorities and their preceptors to retain 100% of the business rates collected, in return for the cessation of central grant support to local government. The consultation was to examine the impact of the reforms on the balance of local and central accountability, as well as to seek views on the current method of accounting for business rates through the Collection Fund.

The Cabinet considered the 36 consultation questions and the Council’s proposed response to each as laid out at Appendix 1 of the report, as well as the range of options for devolution of responsibilities which were summarised in Appendix 2.

The Cabinet also took note of the addendum report which detailed the views of the Business Support Overview and Scrutiny Committee following their consideration of the report on 25 August 2016.

Reasons:

To ensure that the Council’s response to this consultation is submitted before the deadline of 26 September 2016.