The Committee considered a report by the Head of Resources (circulated previously) regarding the Rural Settlement List.

The Head of Resources highlighted the following:

·       The Council was required to annually publish a Rural Settlement list in accordance with the Local Government Finance Act 1997.

·       Rural Settlements were settlements with a population of less than 3,000 within the boundaries of a rural area as set out under the provision of the Housing Act 1996.

·       The Rural Rate Relief Scheme helped qualifying small general stores, post offices, food shops, public houses and petrol stations. It is intended to safeguard rural communities and preserve the future of village life by supporting the service they provide to local people.  To qualify for relief, properties must be situated within a designated rural settlement area of less than 3,000 people.

·       Appendix A listed the qualifying Rural Settlements with a population of fewer than 3,000. This list had remained unchanged for many years.

RESOLVED that the Rural Settlement List be approved, for the purposes of Rural Rate Relief, of the rural settlements listed in Appendix A to this report.