Content

Councillor Liz Leyshon proposed the
recommendations, which were seconded by Councillor Bill Revans.
 
Having been duly proposed and seconded, the
Council Resolved to:-

1)   
Approve that the Non-Domestic Rating Discretionary Rate Relief and
Hardship policy is amended to prevent Private Schools from applying
for assistance in anticipation of the changes to the Local
Government Finance Act 1988. The recommended wording was to be
found in Appendix D of the policy and stated: ‘The ratepayer
must not fall within the definition of a Private School. For
business rates purposes, ‘Private Schools’ were defined
by HM Treasury as schools at which full time education was provided
for pupils of compulsory school age where fees were
payable.’

2)   
Delegate authority to the Council’s Section 151 Officer in
consultation with the Monitoring Officer to make any additional
amendments as necessary to ensure the wording aligned with that Act
once such amendments came into force.

3)   
Approve to reduce the relief percentage within the policy for
Retail, Hospitality and Leisure sector for 2025/26 from 75% to 40%
as a result of changes to Central Government policy.

4)   
Approve to end Local Newspaper Relief in line with Central
Government policy.