Agenda item

Report from the Executive Director of Corporate Services.

Recommendation:

To consider the application for the award of Discretionary Business Rates Relief for The Rotherham Hospice Trust. This is in accordance with the Council’s Business Rates Discretionary Relief Policy.

Consideration was given to the report which outlined the application for business rates relief from the Rotherham Hospice Trust. The Rotherham Hospice Trust was a registered charity and the only adult hospice serving the people of Rotherham and its surrounding towns and villages. The Hospice offered specialist palliative care through a range of holistic services aimed at supporting patients to live life as fully as they could to the end of their life.

The Charity ran retail and cafe outlets throughout the borough which were operated with the sole purpose of generating income to help fund the running costs of the Hospice. These were staffed and supported by a team of volunteers who gave their time to assist with daily operations, serve customers and help maintain a welcoming environment. The shops and cafes provided valuable social opportunities for the volunteers, many of whom were retired, socially isolated or looking to gain confidence and work experience.  The shops promoted sustainability through the sale of donated goods, encouraging re-use and reducing waste. Overall, these retail premises played a vital role in supporting the Hospice’s charitable aims, fostering local engagement and delivering lasting social impact throughout the borough.

The Charity benefited from an award for discretionary rate relief at their main hospice premises since 1 April 2005 and the retail and café outlets since 1 April 2025 and it was now seeking additional support for the new premises which they had taken on from 25 November 2025.  The property would be used for the sorting and storage of donations. It would also be used to park the charity vans and provide additional office space.

The application for the award of discretionary relief was in line with the Council’s qualifying criteria as set out in its Policy. The Charity provided access to facilities which were open to all sections of the community and worked to reflect the diversity of local communities in service delivery, volunteering, and staffing. The Charity was applying for discretionary relief with regards to their 2025/26 and 2026/27 rates liability. The cost to RMBC would be £441.59 for 25/26 and £1,248.91 for 2026/27.

Resolved:

1.    That Cabinet approve the application for Discretionary Business Rates Relief for The Rotherham Hospice Trust in accordance with the details set out in Section 6 of the report for the 2025/26 and 2026/27 financial year.