Issue - meetings

Retail Rate Relief 2019/20 and 2020/21

Meeting: 05/02/2019 - Cabinet (Item 11)

11 Retail Rate Relief 2019/20 and 2020/21 pdf icon PDF 134 KB

Minutes:

Background:

 

The Deputy Leader chaired the meeting from this point as the Leader had to leave the meeting (note: item 12 – Housing Infrastructure Fund Bid – New Routes to Good Growth was taken ahead of this item, before the Leader left).

 

This report set out the Council’s proposed Business Rates Retail Relief Policy 2019/20 and 2020/21.

 

The Government had announced in the Autumn Statement 2018, its intention for occupiers of retail properties with a rateable value below £51,000 to receive a discount of one third of their chargeable amount on their rate bills for 2019-20 and 2020-21 and in December 2018 guidance was issued to support local authorities with criteria to determine funding, which was detailed in section 3 of the report.

 

Decision number:

Decision:

20/2019

The Cabinet agreed that retail relief for hereditaments as defined in paragraphs 3.1 to 3.3 of the report be awarded in appropriate circumstances.

21/2019

The Cabinet agreed that retail relief for hereditaments as defined in paragraphs 3.4 to 3.6 of the report are not awarded.

 

Reasons:

 

The retail relief scheme has been promoted by and will be funded by central government to assist business ratepayers.  Given the lack of cost to the local taxpayer it is appropriate for the Council to operate such a scheme.