Decision details

Purpose of Report: To approve a policy for allocation of discretionary hardship relief following business rate revaluation & Budget 2017 and a business rate relief policy for the Enterprise Zone.

Executive is asked to consider and approve both policies.

Resolved:     That the Executive approves:

a)           The new policy at Annex A of the report for discretionary rate relief for those businesses hardest hit by the business rate revaluation as set out in the Government Spring Budget 2017;

b)           The new policy at Annex B for business rate relief in respect of the York Central Enterprise Zone;

c)           That minor changes can be made (Paragraph 22 of the report) to either policy (Annex A & B) by the Director of Customer & Corporate Services in consultation with the Executive Member for Finance & Performance.

Reason:        a)      To provide a transparent process for awarding discretionary rate relief and supporting local businesses.

                       b)      To provide a transparent process to encourage businesses to relocate to the Enterprise Zone and grow the York economy.  

                       c)      To provide flexibility to amend either scheme quickly if required without fundamentally altering the purpose of the policies.