Decision details

Business Rates - Local Discount Schemes for Retail, Hospitality & Leisure in 2025/26

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member - Corporate Services

Decision status: Awaiting Implementation

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

To allow the Cabinet Member to agree to the extension of awarding Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief to eligible National Non-Domestic properties for a further year from 1st April 2025.

 

Decision:

Decision(s): That

 

(1)

eligible use of properties for the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief be agreed, as set out in Section 4 of this report;

 

(2)

Business Rates Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief of 40 percent of the outstanding liability be awarded in respect of defined properties for the period 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026 after any other reliefs have been applied to the bill;

 

(3)

that a cash cap of £110,000 in Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief should apply for the period commencing 1 April 2025 for any eligible business as set out in Section 2 of this report; and

 

(4)

administration of the scheme be delegated to the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Commercial as set out in this report.

 

Reason(s) for the Decision(s):

 

In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Government wished to support businesses in the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure sectors from 2020-21 through to 2024-25. The relief has been extended each year since to support business in those sectors. In light of ongoing economic pressures due to high energy bills and cost of living issues, at the budget on 30 October 2024, the Government announced the extension of the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief (RHL) of 40% into 2025/26. Relief awarded under this scheme will be funded by the Government through the Section 31 grant.

 

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

 

None

 

Publication date: 31/03/2025

Date of decision: 27/03/2025

Effective from: 05/04/2025

Accompanying Documents: