Agenda item

Report from the Strategic Director of Finance and Customer Services.

Recommendation:

That Cabinet approve the application for Discretionary Business Rate Relief for Social Eyes in accordance with the details set out in Section 6 to this report for the 2023/2024, 2024/25 and 2025/26 financial years.

Consideration was given to the report which presented the application for the award of Discretionary Business Rate Relief for Social Eyes. Social Eyes was a registered charity providing a day care service to support and care for adults with learning disabilities and autism. They provided social and recreational opportunities from Monday to Friday with a varied offer including arts and crafts, sport and walking groups, performance arts, DIY, sensory sessions, meal planning and life skills groups. The service also extended to running a community café with service users serving members of the public.

Social Eyes opened its first dedicated premises in 2020 having previously used other small community venues. Due to an increase in service demand, additional premises were opened in Wath Upon Dearne in 2023. The charity currently supported 85 adults from the local community.

The total value of the relief for the financial year 2023/2024 was £1,369.16, for the financial year 2024/25 was £3,213.56 and for the financial year 2025/26 was £3,213.56. The cost to the Council was £670.89 for the financial year 2023/2024, £1,574.64 for the financial year 2024/2025 and £1,574.64 for the 2025/26 financial year based on the Council’s 49% share.

In line with the Council’s Business Rates Discretionary Relief Policy, having regard to the financial cost of the proposed relief, the charitable use of the premises and the contribution that this organisation made to the local community, it was recommended that an award for discretionary relief be granted to Social Eyes.

Resolved:

That Cabinet approve the application for Discretionary Business Rate Relief for Social Eyes in accordance with the details set out in Section 6 to this report for the 2023/2024, 2024/25 and 2025/26 financial years.