Issue - meetings

Discretionary Rate Relief - Enterprise Zone

Meeting: 27/06/2018 - Policy and Resources Committee (Item 20)

20 Discretionary Rate Relief - Kent Medical Campus Enterprise Zone pdf icon PDF 61 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Mrs Sheila Coburn, the Head of Revenues and Benefits Shared Service, presented her report setting out a policy identifying the circumstances in which the Council would grant Business Rates Discretionary relief to occupiers of non-domestic properties located within the Kent Medical Campus Enterprise Zone.  It was noted that

 

·  As part of the financial incentives associated with an Enterprise Zone, Local Authorities had the option to award up to 100% Discretionary Business Rates Relief up to the value of £275k over five years to any business which sets up operation within the Enterprise Zone area before 31 March 2022 and is eligible to receive the support within the State Aid De Minimis threshold.

 

·  The Government would reimburse the Council the cost incurred in providing up to 100% Business Rates Relief for up to five years.  To be able to award Discretionary Rate Relief, it was necessary for the Council to adopt a policy.

 

Referring to the plan attached as Appendix A to the proposed Kent Medical Campus Enterprise Zone Business Rates Relief Policy which showed edged red the boundary for the Enterprise Zone, a Member enquired whether the field to the south east corner should be within the red-line of the Enterprise Zone.  Mr William Cornall, the Director of Regeneration and Place, said that it was his understanding that the field was within the Enterprise Zone, but not the Local Plan allocation for the Kent Medical Campus.  He would check with colleagues and confirm by email.

 

RESOLVED:  That the Policy for the award of Business Rates Discretionary relief to occupiers of non-domestic properties located within the Kent Medical Campus Enterprise Zone, attached as Appendix 1 to the report of the Head of Revenues and Benefits Shared Service, be approved.

 

Voting:   15 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions

 

Note: Following the meeting it was confirmed that the Kent Medical Campus Enterprise Zone did not include the field to the South East (‘Pope’s Field’), contrary to what was shown on the map attached as an appendix to the policy. An updated map has been published on the Council’s website under this item to show the correct map.