Decision details

The Council Meeting has given approval to the following in respect of Council Tax and Business Rates Discounts and Exemptions:

(a)   Business Rates Relief

·         That support continues for

o   CASC organisations as outlined at 3.4

o   Not for profit organisations as outlined at 3.7

·         That further support for Charities is limited to mandatory relief (see paragraph 3.5) and that any village shop entitlement (3.6) be considered through the local business rates relief scheme.

·         That the localised discount scheme for businesses as outlined in section 3.8 and 3.9 be maintained with a review of the awarding criteria for the Town & District Improvement Scheme.

·         That organisations and initiatives which are considered to be essential for the Council to achieve its priorities as outlined at 3.10 of this report continue to be considered for business rates relief.

(b)   Council Tax

·         That Stockport’s empty property discount scheme is maintained for 2016/17 as described at section 4.3 of this report.

·         That Stockport’s Council Tax Support scheme is maintained for 2016/17 as detailed at section 5 and Appendix 6.

·         That the wording of the Council Tax Support Scheme be amended to clarify the treatment of Universal Credit in the calculation.

·         That Care Leavers under the age of 21 be considered as a priority group for a Discretionary Council Tax Payment as described at section 4.4.

·         That the Discretionary Payment Budget be increased to £100k for 2016/17.

Councillor Peter Burns delcared a personal and prejudicial interest as the trustee of a registered charity subject of business rate relief.

Councillor Rochard Coaton declared a personal interest as a Director of Stockport Labour Holdings which owned property subject of business rate relief.

Councillor Annette Finnie delcraed a disclosable pecuniary interest as the owner of a business which was subject of business rate relief.

Councillor Andy Sorton declared a disclosable pecuniary interest as part owner of a property subject of a Council Tax discount.

Scrutiny