Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Governance & Corporate Services)

The Local Government Finance Act 1988 requires the Council to maintain a Discretionary Rate Relief Scheme to award up to 100% Business Rates Relief to certain organisations which operate within set criteria which are detailed in this report.

This report sets out the details of the scheme, the current cost to the Council, and the criteria by which the Council will be guided when deciding whether or not to award Discretionary Rate Relief.  

The Executive is asked to approve

·         The criteria at Appendix 1to be retained and the existing scheme of 20% ‘Top-Up’ continue for CASC organisations.

·         For Not for Profit Organisations - that any organisation which fulfills the criteria at Appendix 2 should receive a 50% Discretionary Rate Relief.

·         For Village Shops - that they become part of any future Local Discount Scheme

·         That consideration be given to, where possible, converting appropriate future  awards made through the Main Grant Scheme into local Business Rates discount either as a stand-alone discount or as a top-up to an existing discount , such as the mandatory discount for charities; and.   

·         That consideration be given to a local discount scheme being developed

Officer contact: Alison Blount, 0161 44 5107, alison.blount@stockport.gov.uk

The Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform & Finance) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to agree a Rate Relief Scheme to provide Business Rates Relief to certain organisations. The report sets out the details of the scheme, the current cost to the Council, and the criteria by which the Council will be guided when deciding whether or not to award Discretionary Rate Relief. 

RESOLVED – That, in respect of the Non Domestic Rate Discretionary Relief Scheme,

·         the criteria detailed at Appendix 1 be retained and the existing scheme of 20% ‘Top-Up’ continue for CASC organisations;

·         Not for Profit Organisations (organisations which fulfill the criteria at Appendix 2) receive a 50% Discretionary Rate Relief;

·         Village Shops become part of any future Local Discount Scheme

·         consideration be given to, where possible, converting appropriate future  awards made through the Main Grant Scheme into local Business Rates discount either as a stand-alone discount or as a top-up to an existing discount , such as the mandatory discount for charities; and 

·         consideration be given to a local discount scheme being developed.