Consideration was given to the report of the Revenues and Benefits Manager that set out details of the Government’s COVID-19 Additional Relief Fund (CARF) – Discretionary Non-Domestic Rate Relief Scheme to assist businesses affected by the pandemic and who were ineligible for existing support linked to business rates.  The Council would be reimbursed where relief was granted using discretionary powers under section 47 of the local Government finance act.

A total of £1,289,994 had been allocated to the Council for the CARF scheme, which was required to be applied to the business rates accounts of eligible businesses during the billing period 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022.  The Council could design, adopt and implement a scheme, subject to the Government’s eligibility criteria.  Not all businesses / organisations had been affected by the pandemic and it was proposed that these be excluded from the scheme; these included the public sector; education; financial and legal services; raw construction material producers; utility companies; medical; communication; advertising sites; beach huts; land for storage; show homes; and car parks (spaces).

Due to time constraints, it was proposed that the same percentage (38% approximately) reduction be given to all eligible businesses.  This would allow a small buffer to take account of any rateable value changes that might occur whilst the scheme remained open.  Eligible businesses would receive relief automatically and would have to provide a declaration confirming that they had been adversely affected by the pandemic, as well as complying with the UK’s domestic and international subsidy control obligations.

Cabinet formally approved the CARF scheme and agreed that delegated authority be granted to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Cabinet Portfolio Holders for Finance and Performance Management and Economic Development and Regeneration to finalise the amount of reduction and detailed criteria.

The Revenues and Benefits Manager and his team were congratulated on the support they had provided to local business with regard to disseminating various grant schemes.

RESOLVED: That the:

1)    COVID-19Additional Relief Fund outlined in the report be approved; and

2)    Chief Executive be granted delegated authority in consultation with the Cabinet Portfolio Holders for Finance and Performance Management and Economic Development and Regeneration to finalise the amount of reduction and detailed criteria.