Issue - meetings

This report asks Members to note Arun’s membership of a new West Sussex Business Rates pool from April 2020 and to grant delegated authority to the Group Head of Corporate Support, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Corporate Support, to agree the detailed arrangements for the pool.

The Cabinet

RESOLVED – That

1.    Arun’s membership of a new West Sussex business rates pool from April 2020 be noted; and

2.    Delegated authority be granted to the Group head of Corporate Support, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Corporate Support, to agree the detailed arrangements for the pool.

The Chairman outlined that the Council had first become a member of the West Sussex Business Rate pool in 2015.  Business Rate Pooling had the advantage that the total income that was retained by the pool was greater than the sum of the individual members.  This was because the levy that would otherwise be retained by Central Government was paid to the Pool. By working in partnership with the other Councils the additional income could be used to fund a range of County wide projects which would otherwise not be available.  The current West Sussex Pilot Pool, which allowed 75% to be retained locally, would come to an end in March 2020 as the Government was not extending pilots. The Council had the opportunity to join a new 50% retention Business Rate Pool from April 2020 which would continue to make more funding available for the area.  

The Financial Services Manager confirmed that the new West Sussex pool would have membership comprising West Sussex County Council and Adur and Horsham District Councils in the County.  As with the current and previous pools there were always risks association with membership, however, Members were advised that one of the key policies of the new pool was to ensure that Councils would be no worse off in the pool than it would have been if they had not joined. The modelling suggested that the benefits and rewards of the membership would far outweigh any potential risks.

            The Cabinet

                        RESOLVED – That

(1)          Arun’s membership of a new West Sussex Business Rates pool from April 2020; and

(2)          Delegated authority be granted to the Group Head of Corporate Support, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Corporate Support, to agree the details arrangements for the pool.

The Cabinet confirmed its decision as per Decision Notice C/023/091219, a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of the Minutes.

(During the course of the discussion on this item, Councillor Dr Walsh declared a Personal Interest as a Member of West Sussex County Council).