Decision details

Recommendations approved

Reasons for recommendations

The revised policy will:

a.    Tie the policy into the council’s Fair Collection Charter to provide greater assistance to businesses and charitable organisations in the current economic climate

b.    Ensure the policies are relevant and up to date and meet the current needs of businesses and charitable organisations

c.     Provide clarity, simplicity and make the policies more accessible to ratepayers

d.    Bring the policies in line with current legislation

e.    Help with shared decision making across the councils

f.      Provide the increased resilience of sharing key processes

g.    Reduce administration if discretionary charitable relief awards granted for 5 years

h.    The proposed policy protects current eligible ratepayers ensuring there is no financial impact for them.

Other options considered and rejected

To continue with the existing discretionary rate relief policy was not considered as the policy is out of date and not aligned with other council policies including the Fair Collection Charter.