The Westminster Council Rating Advisory Panel met to discuss changes to the membership, declarations of interest, and applications for NNDR Discretionary and Hardship Relief. It was also recommended that the public and press be excluded from part of the meeting.

NNDR Discretionary and Hardship Relief Applications

The panel was scheduled to discuss Non-Domestic Rates (NNDR) Discretionary and Hardship Relief applications¹. The report pack for the meeting included numerous applications for relief. According to the agenda, these applications were to be discussed in private, as they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information . The report pack notes that this falls under paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

Exempt Reports

The agenda included a recommendation to exclude the public and press from a portion of the meeting. This recommendation was made under Section 100 (A) (4) and Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972. The reason cited for this exclusion was that the discussion would likely involve the disclosure of exempt information. It was argued that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information .

Other items

The meeting also included the noting of any changes to the membership of the panel, and declarations of interest from councillors and officers. The members of the committee are Councillor Concia Albert, Councillor Robert Eagleton, Deputy Cabinet Member - Housing, Councillor Patrick Lilley, Deputy Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Lead Member for Soho and LGBTQ+ Champion, Councillor Selina Short, and Councillor Martin Hayes.