Agenda item

Report from the Executive Director of Corporate Services.

Recommendation:

That Cabinet approve the application for Discretionary Business Rates Relief for Rotherham Open Arts Renaissance in accordance with the details set out in Section 6 to this report for the 2025/26 and 2026/27 financial years.

Consideration was given to the report which presented the application for the award of Discretionary Business Rates Relief for Rotherham Open Arts Renaissance in accordance with the Council’s Business Rates Discretionary Relief Policy.

Rotherham Open Arts Renaissance, Hope Centre, Grove Road, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, S60 2ER. It was a registered Community Interest Company (CIC), not-for-profit organisation which was registered on Companies House as a private company limited by guarantee without share capital. The organisation was dedicated to supporting creative practices and promoting arts in Rotherham. The organisation provided free and low-cost access to creative spaces for local artists and creatives working with people of all ages and backgrounds. They aimed to remove financial and social barriers to participation and ensure the activities and studios were welcoming, inclusive and accessible to all.

The organisation had taken on an additional property to enable them to meet the local demand. This was allowing them to extend their existing work, providing more opportunities for local creatives and community groups with the provision of additional studio space, a pottery studio and a small gallery space for local artists to share their work with the community.

Rotherham Open Arts Renaissance had benefitted from an award of discretionary rate relief on their long-term property at Westgate Chambers, Westgate since 2011. They were now seeking additional support, backdated to 2025/26 for the property they occupied from 1 May 2025 which had recently been added to the rating list by the Valuation Office.

The cost to RMBC for the 2025/26 year would be £3,815.03 and £4,115.02 for 2026/27.

Resolved:

That Cabinet approve the application for Discretionary Business Rates Relief for Rotherham Open Arts Renaissance in accordance with the details set out in Section 6 to this report for the 2025/26 and 2026/27 financial years.