The Executive Meeting considered proposed changes to the scheme of discretionary business rate discounts for 2014/15 and has agreed that
(i) the mandatory reliefs outlined at paragraph 1.3 of the report and awarded under s47 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 be adopted.
(ii) an initial Commercial Properties (Business Rates off-set) scheme be implemented as outlined in section 6 of the report and described in appendix 4
(iii) the Local Business Rates Relief Scheme be adopted to include support for
• Large businesses which are new to the Borough subject to the limiting criteria to be drawn up by the Economic Development team as outlined in section 7 of the report
• Businesses within the Borough undergoing significant expansion subject to limiting criteria to be drawn up by the Economic Development team as outlined in section 7 of the report
• Improvements made to existing business in the Borough subject to the limiting criteria outlined at appendix A and limited to a maximum annual budget of £40K as outlined in section 6 of the report and described at appendix 4
• Organisations and initiatives which are considered to be essential for the council to achieve its priorities as outlined at paragraph 8.2 of the report.
(iv) support is given for the principle of converting grants and awards made by the Council into Discretionary rate relief where possible and that officers be asked to prepare a detailed scheme detailing the approach for individual grants and awards as outlined in paragraph 8.1 of the report.
(v) support continues for entitlement to reliefs as outlined in the following sections of the report:
• Community Amateur Sports Clubs (section 4.3.5)
• Charities (section 4.4.3)
• Village shops (section 4.5.2)
• Not for profit organisations (section 4.6.4)