Issue - meetings

As detailed in the recommendations.

The Chief Officer (Community and Enterprise) provided details on policies for the administration of Council Tax and Business rates which were:

·         Council Tax Discounts on second and long term empty homes

·         Council Tax Discretionary Discounts

·         Business Rates Discretionary Rate Relief

·         Business Rates ‘top-up’ Discretionary Rate Reliefs to small businesses

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the current policy of not awarding Council Tax discounts on second and long term empty homes be continued in 2016/17;

(b)       That the current policy to consider Discretionary Council Tax discounts only in cases of civil emergencies and natural disasters be continued;

(c)        That the Discretionary Rate Relief Policy for 2016/17 be approved; and

(d)       That the current policy of not awarding ‘top-up’ Discretionary Discounts to businesses already qualifying for Small Business Rate Relief be continued in 2016/17.

Councillors Bithell and Brown left the room during the discussion of this item.