Agenda item

Report from the Strategic Director of Finance and Customer Services.

Recommendation:

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

Consideration was given to the report which presented the application for the award of Discretionary Business Rate Relief for Arc Church, Storage Container, Community Centre, Harding Avenue, Rawmarsh, Rotherham. Arc Church was a registered charity who were active in the local community, mainly with their largest project Rawmarsh Foodbank. The foodbank was part of the Trussell Trust Network whose aim was to seek to end hunger and poverty in the UK. Foodbank vouchers were issued to local people in crisis after receiving referrals from areas including local community groups, schools, social workers, health visitors and housing and advice agencies.

The storage container, which had been brought on to the rating list and was the subject of this application, was situated in the grounds of the Drop-In Centre, Harding Avenue, Rawmarsh. It was utilised to store food that had been donated by the public and by corporate partners prior to it being distributed to those that had been referred for emergency help. The foodbank opened inside the Drop-In Centre on one evening per week when food parcels were distributed to those who had a voucher.

Arc Church was applying for discretionary relief with regards to their 2023/2024 and 2024/25 rates liability. The financial implication to the Council of awarding the relief was £43.52 for 2023/24 and £62.35 for 2024/25 at set out in section 6 of the report.

The organisation was inclusive to all and was considered to be in line with the criteria within the Council’s policy.

Resolved:

That Cabinet approve the application for Discretionary Business Rate Relief for Arc Church in accordance with the details set out in Section 6 to the report for the 2023/2024 and 2024/25 financial years.

Councillor Sheppard declared a nonpecuniary interest in this item as he volunteered at the foodbank. He took no part in the discussion or vote on this item.