Decision

RESOLVED: That Cabinet

(a) Approves the introduction of a local discretionary relief scheme, providing further relief for eligible pubs and/or rural businesses during 2026/27 to be funded from the underspend on the 2025/26 revenue budget.

(b) Approves scheme criteria and conditions, as set out in the report for both options A and E, which either replicates the Government’s new pub relief qualifying criteria and/or other rural rate qualifying criteria (with certain exceptions).

(c) Requests that the Council Leader writes to government to raise concerns regarding how business rates impact rural communities and businesses unfairly and ask for a review of how business rates are calculated.