Agenda item

Report of the Strategic Director of Finance and Customer Services.

Recommendation:

1.    That Cabinet approve the application for Discretionary Business Rate Relief for Safe Haven Rotherham in accordance with the details set out in Section 6 to this report for the 2020/21 and 2021/22 financial years.

An application for the award of Discretionary Business Rate Relief for Safe Haven Rotherham had been received. In accordance with the Council’s Discretionary Business Rates Relief Policy, Cabinet were asked to consider the application.

Safe Haven Rotherham was a charity that provided food and clothing to disadvantaged people and those in need from their premises in the centre of Rotherham. Service users can be in need by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantages such as long-term unemployment and homelessness. The application for discretionary relief was in line with the qualifying criteria as set out in the policy. As the organisation become a registered charity from 20th January, 2021, they were entitled to 80% mandatory relief which was not subject to a decision of the Council. As such Cabinet were being asked to consider the application for an award of 20% discretionary rate relief for the period 20th January, 2021, to 31st March, 2021.

Resolved:-

That Cabinet approve the application for Discretionary Business Rate Relief for Safe Haven Rotherham in accordance with the details set out in Section 6 to this report for the 2020/21 and 2021/22 financial years.