Issue - meetings

1.    That Council agrees in principle that Three Rivers District Council enters into the Hertfordshire Business Rates Pool, subject to the Government accepting its application to form a pool.

2.    That Council delegate authority to the Chief Executive and the Director of Finance to sign up to the Hertfordshire Business Rates Pool, within 28 days of the Local Government Finance Settlement.

Councillor Jonathon Solomons moved the recommendation as set out in the report, seconded by Councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst.

The critical importance of council pooling was discussed with a highlight on the decision for Three Rivers not to join the Hertfordshire pool, and a more proactive approach to exploring pooling opportunities was suggested.

Members emphasised that discussions on business rate pooling should have been raised in earlier meetings and highlighted that legal and financial guidance had been provided.

On being put to the Council the motion was declared CARRIED by the Chair of Council, having been agreed by general assent.

RESOLVED:

1.     That Council agrees in principle that Three Rivers District Council enters into the Hertfordshire Business Rates Pool, subject to the Government accepting its application to form a pool.

2.     That Council delegate authority to the Chief Executive and the Director of Finance to sign up to the Hertfordshire Business Rates Pool, within 28 days of the Local Government Finance Settlement.

The meeting closed at 22:00.

This report seeks approval to enter into a business rates pool with Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) and a number of other Districts within the County for 2025/26.

Recommendation:

That Policy & Resources Committee recommends to Full Council:

1.       That Council agrees in principle that Three Rivers District Council enters into the Hertfordshire Business Rates Pool, subject to the Government accepting its application to form a pool. 

2.       That Council delegates authority to the Chief Executive and  the Director of Finance to sign up to the Hertfordshire Business Rates Pool, within 28 days of the Local Government Finance Settlement.

Alison Scott, Director of Finance, introduced the report.

The committee debated the risks of business rates appeals across the county, previous risks presented by Three Rivers District Council relating to the Warner Brothers site, and the possible composition of rates pools. Officers confirmed that Three Rivers District Council could only join a pool which had the County Council as a member.

RESOLVED:  

That Policy & Resources Committee recommends to Full Council:

1. That Council agrees in principle that Three Rivers District Council enters into the Hertfordshire Business Rates Pool, subject to the Government accepting its application to form a pool.
2. That Council delegates authority to the Chief Executive and the Director of Finance to sign up to the Hertfordshire Business Rates Pool, within 28 days of the Local Government Finance Settlement.