Issue details

Amendment to Discretionary Business Rate Relief Policy (additional agencies)

 

 

The Government has announced a series of measures to support businesses through the impact of the Covid-19 emergency. The existing Retail Discount and Pub Relief schemes have been further expanded, and a new “Nursery Discount” has been introduced.

 

On 25th March 2020, a further change was announced that allowed Estate Agents, Employment Agencies, Letting Agents and Betting shops to fall to be entitled to the Expanded Retail Discount scheme

 

Legislative changes are not being made to accommodate the discounts. Instead, the Government expects that local authorities deliver the discounts via discretionary powers which already exist, and so changes are required to the Council’s discretionary business rates relief policy to facilitate the administration of these reliefs.

Decision type: Key

Reason Key: Affects more than one ward;

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Wards affected: (All Wards);

Notice of proposed decision first published: 26/03/2020

This decision will be taken under urgency procedures.

Reason for urgency:
The government requires that local authorities provide support measures to local businesses as a matter of priority.

The Chairman of the Scrutiny and Overview Committee and the Leader of Council have been informed and their agreement has been received that this decision be treated as a matter of urgency and that it should be exempt from call-in by virtue of Scrutiny Procedure Rule 12.18-12.19.

Decision due: 27 March 2020 by Head of Finance

Contact: Katie Kelly, Revenues Manager 01954 713335. Email: Katie.kelly@scambs.gov.uk Email: katie.kelly@scambs.gov.uk Tel: 01954 713109.

Consultees

The Chairman of Scrutiny and Overview Committee was consulted upon and agreed to the decision being treated as urgent under Rule 16 of the Access to Information Regulations. The Chairmen of the Council and of Scrutiny and Overview Committee were consulted upon and agreed to the decision being treated as urgent under Rule 12.19 of the Scrutiny and Overview Procedure Rules.

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