Agenda item

Report from the Strategic Director of Finance and Customer Services.

Recommendations:

1. That Cabinet approve the application for Discretionary Business Rate Relief for Rotherham & District Citizens Advice Bureau in accordance with the details set out in Section 6 to this report for the 2021/22 and 2022/23 financial years.

The Council had received an application for the award of Discretionary Business Rate Relief for Rotherham and District Citizens Advice Bureau. In line with the Council’s Business Rates Discretionary Relief Policy, having regard to the financial cost of the proposed relief, the charitable use of the premises and the contribution that the organisation makes to the local community, it was recommended that an award for discretionary relief be granted to Rotherham and District Citizens Advice Bureau.

Rotherham and District Citizens Advice Bureau was a registered charity which provided free information and advice to the community in Rotherham ensuring that the Borough’s citizens did not suffer through lack of knowledge of their rights and responsibilities. The charity actively worked to raise issues of social injustice to enable improvement in social justice for all. The organisation moved premises on 1st December, 2021, because of the current town centre renovations and a requirement from RMBC to temporarily relocate pending the construction of new premises as part of the Town Centre Plan. The organisation benefited from an award of discretionary relief at their former premises which was awarded continuously from 2017 to the date of their relocation. The proposed relief would maintain this position.

Resolved:-

1.    That Cabinet approve the application for Discretionary Business Rate Relief for Rotherham and District Citizens Advice Bureau in accordance with the details set out in Section 6 to this report for the 2021/22 and 2022/23 financial years.