Agenda item

Report from the Strategic Director of Finance and Customer Services.

Recommendations

1.    That Cabinet approve the applications for Discretionary Business Rate Relief for 46^th Rotherham Scout Group and Rotherham Unit 287 of the Sea Cadets Corps in accordance with the details set out in Section 6 to this report for the 2023/24 and 2024/25 financial years.

Consideration was given to the report which set out the application for the award of Discretionary Business Rate Relief for the 46^th Rotherham Scout Group and Rotherham Unit 287 of the Sea Cadet Corps.

The 46^th Rotherham Scout Group provided activities for the benefit of young people’s learning, and social and mental welfare. It aimed to engage and support personal development thus empowering young people to make a positive contribution to society. The organisation had to cease operations during Covid which resulted in there being no income generated to meet fixed cost expenditure. The post-Covid period had left the group with significant expenditure to ensure compliance with fire, gas and emergency lighting regulations. The organisation was applying for discretionary relief with regards to their 2023/24 and 2024/25 rates liability.

Rotherham Unit 287 of the Sea Cadet Corps offered a structured programme of training and activities both on water and on land. The aim was to develop not only skills in seamanship but also to equip young people with leadership, management and team building skills. The organisation currently benefitted from an award of discretionary relief on its two existing premises. However, they were in the process of vacating the premises at Falding Street, Rotherham as they moved all their equipment into the new premises which were the subject of this application. They would retain the premises at Thrybergh for their water-based activities. The organisation is applying for discretionary relief with regards to their 2023/24 and 2024/25 rates liability

The total value of the relief for the financial years 2023/24 and 2024/25 was

£729.11 and £1,307.38 respectively. The cost to the Council was £357.27

(2023/24) and £640.61 (2024/25) based on the Council’s 49% share.

Resolved:-

1.    That Cabinet approve the applications for Discretionary Business Rate Relief for 46^th Rotherham Scout Group and Rotherham Unit 287 of the Sea Cadets Corps in accordance with the details set out in Section 6 to this report for the 2023/24 and 2024/25 financial years.