Issue - meetings

To submit a report by the Head of Function (Resources)/Section 151 Officer.

It was resolved –

·        To adopt the current Discretionary Business Rates Relief Framework – Charities and Non-Profit Making Organisations as detailed in Appendix to the report for the financial year 2018/19 only and to instruct the Head of Function (Resources) and Section 151 Officer to ensure that administrative procedures before 31 March, 2018 advise relevant charities and non-profit making organisations that the policy will apply for 2018/19 only and will cease on 31 March, 2019.

·        To agree that the public consultation on the framework be carried out by the Head of Function (Resources) and Section 151 Officer during the first half of 2018/19 with a revised framework coming into effect on 1 April, 2019.

The report of the Head of Function (Resources)/Section 151 Officer seeking the Executive’s approval to extend the current Discretionary Business Rates Relief Framework for Charities and Non-Profit Making Organisations to 2018/19 was presented for consideration.

The Head of Function (Resources)/Section 151 Officer reported that it had been the intention to consult on a new Discrationary Business Rates Relief Framework for Charities and Non- Profit Making Organisations, but that this was held back pending the publication of the Welsh Government’s new small business rates relief scheme and to allow an assessment of the impact of the scheme to be made. The Welsh Government scheme has now been announced and will become effective frrom 1 April, 2018 meaning that the Council can proceed with the consultation on the framework. However, there has been insufficient time to hold the consultation and to report on the outcome to the Executive so as to enable a decision to be made at this meeting. Consequently, the proposal is to extend the current discretionary rates relief policy for charities and non-profit making organisations for 2018/19 and to conduct a public consultation on the framework during the first half of 2018/19 with a view to implementing a new framework in April, 2019.

It was resolved –

•  To adopt the current Discretionary Business Rates Relief Framework – Charities and Non-Profit Making Organisations as detailed in Appendix to the report for the financial year 2018/19 only and to instruct the Head of Function (Resources) and Section 151 Officer to ensure that administrative procedures before 31 March, 2018 advise relevant charities and non-profit making organisations that the policy will apply for 2018/19 only and will cease on 31 March, 2019.

•  To agree that the public consultation on the framework be carried out by the Head of Function (Resources) and Section 151 Officer during the first half of 2018/19 with a revised framework coming into effect on 1 April, 2019.