Report by Head of Resources (attached)

The Committee considered a report by the Head of Resources (circulated previously) regarding the adoption of a revised policy for the granting of Discretionary Non-Domestic Rates Relief and two new policies for the administration of business grants and the Council Tax discretionary reductions.

The Head of Resources highlighted the following:

·         Further measures had been announced by the Government due to the Covid 19 crisis.  These included extended business reliefs, business grants and a Council Tax hardship fund.

·         The revised policy for the granting of Discretionary Non-Domestic Rates Relief as detailed in Appendix 1.  On 11 March the Government announced that due to the Covid 19 crisis it would increase the Business Rates Retail Discount from 50% to 100% and extend it to include the leisure and hospitality sectors.  The Government also announced a Business Rates Nursery Discount.  Both discounts applied for 2020/21 only.  The Council awarded £20.4m and 1134 businesses had been granted 100% relief.

·         The Small Business Grant and Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Policy for 2020/21 as detailed in Appendix 2.  The Council had received £51m to pay grants to eligible businesses.  As of 29 May 2020 the Council had paid out £37.8m.  700 (17%) of the total eligible businesses had not yet applied.  This list would be circulated to Councillors to help with contacting those businesses to encourage them to apply for the grant.  The Federation of Small Businesses would also be sent the list to assist with contacting these businesses to help the Council achieve paying 100% of the grant received from the Government to these eligible businesses.

·         Council Tax Discretionary Reductions (Appendix 3).  The Government had awarded the Council £692,000 to support economically vulnerable people by awarding £150 relief to council tax bills to claimants who currently pay a small proportion of Council Tax which was approximately 3,200 claimants.  If further claims were made for Council Tax reductions, then those claimants would also receive £150 credit.  The Policy also included a flood recovery framework to provide Council Tax reductions and for other cases such as individuals suffering exceptional hardship.

·         The team had worked extremely hard and over weekends to ensure that the applications for grants were processed quickly. 

·         The separate Discretionary Grant scheme for businesses had been launched today and had been publicised on our website and using social media.

In response to a question, the Head of Resources advised that car parks managed by other organisations were not eligible for the business grants as to meet the criteria the business must have premises.  Parish Councils were also not eligible to apply for the grants.