Issue - meetings

To submit a report by the Head of  Function (Resources).

RESOLVED

·        To note the recent business rate policy developments;

·        That current policy guidelines to grant discretionary reliefs from payment of non-domestic rates for charities and non-profit organisations are readopted for a further 1 year up to 31 March, 2015;

·        That organisations and charities are advised of this decision before 31 March 2014 and also that the policy will come to an end on 31 March 2015;

·        That the Resources Department will undertake a general review and consult upon revised policy guidelines during 2014/15 in respect of discretionary business rates relief.  A new or revised discretionary rate relief policy to be adopted as a consequence from 1 April 2015.

Reported by the Head of Function (Resources) - That Local Authorities in Wales must grant mandatory rate relief provided for within the Local Government Finance Act 1988, as amended by the Local Government Act 2003.

Under the Local Government Finance Act 1988, local authorities can also grant discretionary relief or remission from rates up to 100% of the rates payable with regard to properties occupied by charities and other non-profit making organisations (Appendix A to the report).  This has operated since 1 April 2003.  It was a policy renewable every 5 years and was extended for a further 5 years by the Executive from April 2008 to March 2013.  The Executive on 18 March 2013 decided that the policy guidelines be readopted for a further 12 months up to 31 March 2014.  All organisations and charities were advised of this decision before 31 March 2013 and also that the policy would come to an end on 31 March 2014.

If a new policy or the deadline of the current policy was not extended beyond 31 March 2014, non-profit making organisations and charities would have to reapply and be considered individually by the Executive.

RESOLVED

·        To note the recent business rate policy developments;

·        That current policy guidelines to grant discretionary reliefs from payment of non-domestic rates for charities and non-profit organisations are readopted for a further 1 year up to 31 March, 2015;

·        That organisations and charities are advised of this decision before 31 March 2014 and also that the policy will come to an end on 31 March 2015;

·        That the Resources Department will undertake a general review and consult upon revised policy guidelines during 2014/15 in respect of discretionary business rates relief.  A new or revised discretionary rate relief policy to be adopted as a consequence from 1 April 2015.