Three business rate relief schemes have been proposed by the Government.  The purpose of this report is to seek endorsement of Cabinet to recommend adoption of each scheme to Council in February 2022.

In accepting the recommendations, Cabinet will approve and recommend to Council that the extension of Transitional Relief and Supporting Small Business Relief for small and medium properties to 31 March 2023 be adopted; the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief Scheme be adopted from 1^st April 2022; and accept the Covid 19 Additional Relief Fund from 1^st April 2022 and allocate payments to eligible businesses.

The subject of the decision:

Three business rate relief schemes had been proposed by the Government.  The purpose of this report was to seek endorsement of Cabinet to recommend adoption of each scheme to Council in February 2022.

Alternative options considered:

None.

The reason for the decision:

Central Government expected Local Authorities to grant relief to qualifying ratepayers in line with the eligibility criteria it has set in it guidance and would fully reimburse billing authorities that used their discretionary relief powers under Section 47 of the Local Government Act 1988 for the actual cost incurred in awarding any reliefs.  This would be reimbursed under Section 31 Grant Scheme.

The decision:

That Cabinet approves and recommends to Council that:-

(1)       the extension of Transitional Relief and Supporting Small Business Relief for small and medium properties to 31 March 2023 be adopted;

(2)       the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief Scheme be adopted from 1 April 2022; and

(3)       accept the Covid 19 Additional Relief Fund from 1 April 2022 and allocate payments to eligible businesses.