Agenda item

Report from the Strategic Director of Finance and Customer Services.

Recommendations:

That Cabinet approve the applications for Discretionary Business Rates Relief for Grimm And Co. Limited, Food Aware CIC and City of Sheffield Gymnastics Club CIC in accordance with the details set out in Section 6 to this report for the 2024/25 and 2025/26 financial years.

Consideration was given to the report which set out the applications for the award of Discretionary Business Rates Relief for Grimm And Co. Limited, Food Aware CIC and City of Sheffield Gymnastics Club CIC. This was in accordance with the Council’s Business Rates Discretionary Relief Policy (approved by Officer Executive Decision on 01/07/2025.)

Grimm And Co. Limited was a registered charity based in Rotherham Town Centre that delivered free literacy education projects to children, young people and families. The Charity targeted those who needed it the most to improve their reading and writing, motivating children and young people to write, and build confidence, self-esteem and aspirations.

The Charity recruited, supported and trained volunteers from across the community including adults with learning disabilities, mental health issues and additional needs who were nurtured, supported and learnt new skills. The current number of volunteers stood at 153 who worked in the shop environment and with young people and families where appropriate.

The Charity was applying for discretionary relief with regards to their 2024/25 and 2025/26 rates liability. The cost to Rotherham Council would be £1,830.88 for 2024/25 and £1,846.05 for 2025/26.

The application for the award of discretionary relief was considered to be in line with the Council’s qualifying criteria as set out in the Policy. The Charity provided access to facilities which were open to all sections of the community. It provided education and welfare support that complemented the statutory services provided by the Council and was focused on work that was in line with the Council’s priorities for children and young people.

Food Aware CIC was a not-for-profit social enterprise which redistributed surplus/donated food and other items e.g. cleaning materials, clothes, toys, and furniture to local community groups across the Yorkshire and Humberside regions with predominant support given in the Rotherham and Doncaster areas. Around 50% of service users were from the Rotherham Borough.

The organisation liaised with commercial outlets to receive surplus food and supplies which were distributed via approved community partner organisations. Support was currently provided to over 130 community organisations across Yorkshire & Humberside, supporting over 4,000 people each week including Maltby Foodbank, FA Rotherham Community Kitchen, Sunnyside Supplies, Maltby Town Council and Crossroads Care Rotherham.

The Cabinet had previously approved discretionary relief on the organisation’s existing business rates liabilities for other smaller units at the same business address. Due to an increase in demand to support local communities through the current cost of living crisis, an additional storage unit was required to store donated ambient food and other household essentials which enabled the organisation to accept even more surplus essential supplies, support more communities and avoided refusal of these much needed donations.

The organisation was applying for discretionary relief with regards to their 2024/25 and 2025/26 rates liability. The cost to Rotherham Council would be £2,882.88 for 2024/25 (starting from November 2024) and £6,968.54 for 2025/26.

The application for the award of discretionary relief was considered to be in line with the Council’s qualifying criteria as set out in the Policy. The services provided were open to all not-for-profit community groups which were run by volunteers with vital support being delivered to the residents of Rotherham.

City of Sheffield Gymnastics Club CIC was a not-for-profit gymnastic club who taught sports and fitness to children and some adults. The Club was affiliated to the British Gymnastics Association and the Yorkshire Gymnastics Association. It had 250 members with between 60-70% of members from the Rotherham Borough. Members paid a nominal membership fee each year and a small monthly fee to gain access to 22 classes each week and the opportunity to compete in local, regional and national gymnastics competitions. Coaching and mentoring were provided to teenagers to enable them to participate in coaching classes. Any surplus made was reinvested into new and maintenance of equipment, staff training and general operational running costs.

The Club was applying for discretionary relief from when they became a Community Interest Company in 2024/25 and for their 2025/26 rates liability. The cost to Rotherham Council would be £4,187.49 for 2024/25 and £5,745.99 for 2025/26.

The application for the award of discretionary relief was considered to be in line with the Council’s qualifying criteria as set out in the Policy. The Club provided access to facilities which were open to all sections of the community and provided training and fitness to children and adults.

Resolved:

1.    That Cabinet approve the applications for Discretionary Business Rates Relief for Grimm And Co. Limited, Food Aware CIC and City of Sheffield Gymnastics Club CIC in accordance with the details set out in Section 6 to this report for the 2024/25 and 2025/26 financial years.