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Agenda and minutes

Venue: virtual

Contact: Democratic Services 

Items
No. Item

1.

Notice of Decisions

To receive notice of the decisions taken at the meeting held on 7th April 2021.

Minutes:

The record of decisions taken at the meeting held on 7 April 2021, copies of which had been circulated, were agreed.

 

2.

FLOOD SUPPORT FOR COUNCIL TAX RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES pdf icon PDF 61 KB

Purpose

To consider additional support for households and businesses affected by flooding in the winter of 2020/2021.

 

Recommendation

That the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance approves:

a)   The use of the Council’s discretionary powers, in relation to Council Tax, as detailed within paragraph 2.4 of this report for those residential properties severely impacted by flooding;

b)   The award of additional discretionary council tax discounts as detailed in paragraph 2.3 of this report;

c)   The use of the Council’s discretionary powers, in relation to Business Rates, as detailed within paragraph 2.7 of this report for those business properties severely impacted by flooding;

d)   That delegated authority be given to the Group Manager for Resident Services to review and approve such discounts in respect of Council Tax and Business Rates in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance.

 

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member received the report of the Business Manager for Operational Support and Enabling which requested support for households and businesses affected by flooding in the winter of 2020/2021.

It was noted that the Councillor referred to in the report was incorrect and should be amended to Councillor Morris.  The Cabinet Member also noted that the risk mentioned in section 3.1, that more than six households may be flooded and therefore due an award, was unlikely to increase as the weather is now improving.

 

DECISION: The following recommendations were approved:

a)    The use of the Council’s discretionary powers, in relation to Council Tax, as detailed within paragraph 2.4 of this report for those residential properties severely impacted by flooding;

b)    The award of additional discretionary council tax discounts as detailed in paragraph 2.3 of this report;

c)    The use of the Council’s discretionary powers, in relation to Business Rates, as detailed within paragraph 2.7 of this report for those business properties severely impacted by flooding;

d)    That delegated authority be given to the Group Manager for Resident Services to review and approve such discounts in respect of Council Tax and Business Rates in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance.

 

REASONS: The Cabinet Member for Resources and Deputy Leader considered that it is important that residents are supported by the Council when their homes are affected.

 

OPTIONS:  There were a number of options available to Members – a) award the 50% Class A only; leaving the resident with a 50% charge for up to 12 months; b) award a 50% discretionary discount for a shorter period of time; (c) reduce the amount of discretionary after 3 months to 25%; (d) award 25% for up to 12 months in line with the period of a Class A discount.