The Rating Advisory Panel of Westminster Council was scheduled to convene on Tuesday 21 April 2026. The primary focus of the meeting was to consider applications for National Non-Domestic Rate (NNDR) discretionary and hardship relief.

NNDR Discretionary and Hardship Relief Applications

The panel was scheduled to review a significant number of applications for NNDR discretionary and hardship relief, detailed across pages 3 to 378 of the public reports pack. These applications are made by businesses and organisations seeking financial assistance with their business rates due to specific circumstances. The Local Government Act 1972 allows councils to grant discretionary rate relief in certain situations, and hardship relief can be provided to businesses facing exceptional difficulties. The report pack indicated that these discussions would take place in a part of the meeting where the public and press would be excluded, as they were likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information. The recommendation was that this exclusion was in the public interest, outweighing the interest in disclosure.

The agenda also included standard procedural items: noting any changes to the panel's membership and receiving declarations of interest from members and officers. Councillor Concia Albert was scheduled to chair the meeting.