Report of Director of Service Delivery

Lead Cabinet member: Councillor Alan Shuttleworth

(Key decision):

(1) To approve the business rate retail discount policy as set out at appendix 1.

(2) To grant the Director of Service Delivery delegated authority, in consultation with the Lead Member, to review and, if necessary, amend the retail discount policy following the consultation period and at the end of year one of the scheme

(3) To grant the Director of Service Delivery delegated authority to implement and enforce the retail discount policy, including any measures necessary for or incidental to its management and administration.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Service Delivery, seeking approval for a proposed retail discount policy.

Although not a legislative requirement, a consultation with local ratepayers, Chamber of Commerce and Federation of Small Businesses took place and ended on 31 January 2019. The outcome of the consultation was tabled at the meeting and published online as an appendix. It detailed that 77% of the responses were in favour for the qualifying business criteria and 69% were in favour of the proposed non-qualifying business criteria.

Resolved (Key decision):

(1) To approve the business rate retail discount policy as set out at appendix 1 to the report.

(2) To grant the Director of Service Delivery delegated authority, in consultation with the Lead Member, to review and, if necessary, amend the retail discount policy following the consultation period and at the end of year one of the scheme

(3) To grant the Director of Service Delivery delegated authority to implement and enforce the retail discount policy, including any measures necessary for or incidental to its management and administration.

Reason for decisions:

Cabinet approval is required for the retail discount policy which would be used for the purposes of administering the scheme.