Recommendations approved.
Reasons for recommendations:
1. A targeted approach to awarding relief will safeguard that business ratepayers affected by the pandemic, who are ineligible for existing support linked to business rates in 2021/22, receive support.
2. Awarding relief proactively will ensure maximum distribution of the council’s grant funding.
Other options considered and rejected:
1. To invite applications for relief from business ratepayers.
2. This option was dismissed following feedback that local authorities who invited ratepayers to apply for relief are struggling to distribute their funding to businesses due to a lack of applications received, despite opening multiple application windows.