Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillors E R Barr, L A Bentley, Mrs K M Chalk, B Dave, R E Fahey and R E R Morris.

To appoint substitute Members in accordance with Rule 4 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

None.

Members are reminded that any declaration of interest should be made having regard to the Members’ Code of Conduct. In particular, Members must make clear the nature of the interest and whether it is 'pecuniary' or ‘non-pecuniary'.

None.

Report of the Director of Finance & Transformation / Section 151 Officer

The report and any appendices will follow in an Agenda update issued ahead of the meeting of the Committee in due course.

The Committee received a report as set out on pages 1-5 of the agenda, which recommended approval of the Council’s application to participate in a pilot scheme allowing for 100% Business Rate Retention in 2018/19, and delegation of authority to the Director of Finance and Transformation, in consultation with the Chair and Leader, to agree the detail contained within the application.

The Director of Finance and Transformation introduced the report and provided to Members a brief summary of the scheme and its potential benefits. In particular it was highlighted that at the very least, there would be no detrimental effect on the Council’s finances through participation in the scheme, and it was envisaged that a financial benefit would be gained to support projects that enhance the Borough and deliver service improvements.

It was moved by the Chair, seconded by the Vice Chair and

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

i)      The Council’s application to participate in a pilot scheme allowing for 100% Business Rate Retention in 2018/19 in accordance with the principles set out in Part II of the report as part of the Leicestershire-wide proposal be approved; and

ii)    Delegated authority be given to the Director of Finance and Transformation, in consultation with the Chair of Policy, Finance and Development Committee and the Leader to agree on behalf of the Council and the other authorities within Leicester and Leicestershire, the detail contained within the application to participate in the business rate retention pilot scheme.

The press and public are likely to be excluded from the remainder of the meeting in accordance with Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 (Exempt Information) during consideration of the item(s) below on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information, as defined in the respective paragraph(s) 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act and, in all the circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exempt item(s) outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

RESOLVED THAT:

The press and public were excluded from the remainder of the meeting in accordance with Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 (Exempt Information) during consideration of the item(s) below on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information, as defined in the respective paragraph(s) 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act and, in all the circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exempt item(s) outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

Report of the Director of Finance & Transformation / Section 151 Officer

RESOLVED THAT:

The contents of the exempt item be noted.