Decision details
Discretionary Rate Relief policy
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: Yes
Purpose:
to approve amendments to the Discretionary
Rate Relief policy
Decision:
The purpose of this item was to ask Cabinet to consider proposed changes to the Discretionary Rate Relief Policy following recent government announcements and to note the policy which underpins these schemes, as appended to the report.
Councillor Patrick Coleman, Cabinet Member for Finance, introduced the report and explained that under the Local Government Finance Act 1988 and the Localism Act 2011, the Council was required to grant mandatory rate relief in certain circumstances and had discretion to award additional relief where it supported local priorities. Members were advised that the policy reflected previous arrangements and incorporated recent Government business rates initiatives. These included the introduction, from 1 April 2026, of a new 100% business rate relief for a ten?year period for standalone electric vehicle charging points and electric vehicle charging forecourts, and a 15% business rates discount for eligible pubs and live music venues for the 2026/27 financial year. It was noted that the cost of the pub and live music venue relief would be shared between Central Government, the District Council, and the County Council. Members were informed that the relevant reliefs had been applied to 2026/27 annual business rates bills, and that businesses could contact the Council’s Revenues service if they believed they were eligible but had not received the relief.
The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Patrick Coleman and seconded by Councillor Mike Evemy.
Cabinet RESOLVED to:
- Approve the amendments to the Discretionary Rate Relief Policy as detailed within the report;
- Delegate to the Chief Finance Officer, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, any future amendments to the Policy in respect of Electric Vehicle Charging Points and Electric Vehicle Forecourts
Voting record:
7 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstentions.
Report author: Mandy Fathers
Publication date: 17/04/2026
Date of decision: 16/04/2026
Decided at meeting: 16/04/2026 - Cabinet
Effective from: 25/04/2026
Accompanying Documents:
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