Agenda and decisions

Salford City Council - Record of Decision

I, Councillor Jack Youd, Lead Member for Finance and Support Services, in exercise of the powers contained within the Council Constitution, do herby approve:

The arrangements for the award of the 2023/2024 Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Business Rates Relief using Local Authority discretionary relief powers under section 47 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 (as amended), to grant relief.

The Reasons are: 

Introduction of a new business rates relief scheme for retail, hospitality, and leisure properties. As this is a measure for 2023/24 only, the government is not changing the legislation relating to the reliefs available to properties. Instead, the government will, in line with the eligibility criteria, reimburse local authorities that use their discretionary relief powers under section 47 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988, to grant relief.

Options considered and rejected were:

Central Government announced the scheme to support those businesses that make our high streets and town centres a success by helping them to evolve and adapt to changing consumer demands. It is for individual local billing authorities to adopt a local scheme and determine in each individual case when, having regard to government guidance, to grant relief under section 47. The government will fully reimburse local authorities for the local share of the discretionary relief, using a grant under section 31 of the Local Government Act 2003.

Assessment of Risk:

Failure to support Businesses and issue an inaccurate 2023/2024 bill to eligible businesses at the start of the financial year

The source of funding:

Salford City Council will be provided with “on-account” s.31 grant payments throughout 2023/24 to compensate the authority for its 99% share of the cost of the relief.

Legal Advice obtained:

The Government guidance accessed by the link in the report clarifies the procedure to be followed in applying the relief and sets out in detail the types of property eligible for the relief. As mentioned in the report eligibility is calculated on a daily basis, so it is important that when making an award authorities should ensure in the conditions of the award that the relief is subject to the property’s continuing eligibility.

Financial Advice obtained:

The council will receive on account section 31 grant payments throughout 2023/24 to compensate the authority for its 99% share of the cost of the relief. Therefore, if all the requirements in the guidance for the awarding of the relief are followed, there should be no overall financial impact on the council.

Procurement advice obtained: NA

HR advice obtained: NA

Climate Change advice obtained: NA

The following documents have been used to assist the decision process:

Detailed list of eligible businesses (not available to the public)

Government Guidance Business Rates Relief: 2023/24 Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Scheme, local authority guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Some of the relevant documents contain exempt or confidential information and are not available for public inspection. Other documents which are in the public domain are Government Business Rates guidance

Contact  ...  view the full decision text for item 3a

Salford City Council - Record of Decision

I, Councillor Jack Youd, Lead Member for Finance and Support Services, in exercise of the powers contained within the Council Constitution, do herby approve:

The arrangements for the 2023 Supporting Small Business Scheme using Local Authority discretionary relief powers under section 47 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988, to grant relief.

The Reasons are: 

On 17 November 2022, the government announced a new Supporting Small Business (SSB) relief scheme which will cap bill increases at £600 per year for any business losing eligibility for Small Business Rate Relief or Rural Rate Relief at the 2023 revaluation. The scheme also provides support for those previously eligible for the 2022/23 SSB scheme and facing large increases in 2023/24 but in those cases for one further year only.

As this is a measure for 2023/24 to 2025/26, the government will, in line with the eligibility criteria, reimburse local authorities that use their discretionary relief powers under section 47 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988, to grant Supporting Small Business Relief.

Options considered and rejected were:

It is for individual local billing authorities to adopt a local scheme and determine in each individual case when, having regard to government guidance, to grant relief under section 47. The government will fully reimburse local authorities for the local share of the discretionary relief, using a grant under section 31 of the Local Government Act 2003.

Assessment of Risk:

Failure to support businesses and issue an inaccurate 2023/2024 bill to eligible businesses at the start of the financial year

The source of funding:

Salford City Council will be provided with “on-account” s.31 grant payments throughout 2023/24 to compensate the authority for its 99% share of the cost of the relief.

Legal Advice obtained:

The report explains how the 2023 Supporting Small Business Relief scheme will be administered in accordance with Government guidance

Financial Advice obtained:

The council will receive on account section 31 grant payments throughout 2023/24 to compensate the authority for its 99% share of the cost of the relief. Therefore, if all the requirements in the guidance for the awarding of the relief are followed, there should be no overall financial impact on the council.

Procurement Advice obtained: NA

HR Advice obtained: NA

Climate Change Advice obtained: NA

The following documents have been used to assist the decision process:

Detailed list of eligible businesses (not available to the public)

Government Guidance Business Rates Relief: 2023 Supporting Small Business Relief, local authority guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Some of the relevant documents contain exempt or confidential information and are not available for public inspection. Other documents which are in the public domain are Government Business Rates guidance.

Contact Officer:Jane Betts, Service Manager – Business Rates               Tel. 0161 793 2710

This decision is not subject to consideration by another Lead Member.

The appropriate scrutiny panel to call-in the decision is the Overview & Scrutiny Board.

Salford City Council - Record of Decision

I, Councillor Jack Youd, Lead Member for Finance & Support Service, in exercise of the powers contained within the Council Constitution, do hereby approve:

The debt write-off of former tenants’ arrears to the value of £203,913.58.

The Reasons are:

The arrears, after exhaustive attempts to collect, are found to be irrecoverable for a variety of reasons, as detailed in the report.

Options considered and rejected were:

No other options are available due to the nature (age and value) of these accounts.

Assessment of Risk:

High – key financial risks resulting from the updated HRA business plan are identified in this report.

The source of funding is:

The bad debt provision within the HRA.

Legal Advice obtained: N/A

Financial Advice obtained:

This report concerns key aspects of the Council’s revenue finances and has been produced by the Finance division.

Procurement Advice obtained: N/A

HR Advice obtained: N/A

Climate Change Advice obtained: N/A

The following documents have been used to assist the decision process:

All information is contained within the report and supporting appendices.

Contact Officer:Paul Hutchings – Head of Financial Management            Tel. 0161 793 2574

This decision is not subject to consideration by another Lead Member.

The appropriate scrutiny panel to call-in the decision is the Overview & Scrutiny Board.

For Democratic Services use only

This decision was published on 28^th February 2023.

This decision will come into force at 4.00 p.m. on 7^th March 2023, unless it is called-in in accordance with the decision-making process rules.

Salford City Council - Record of Decision

I, Councillor Jack Youd, Lead Member for Finance & Support Services, in exercise of the powers contained within the Council Constitution, do hereby:

Approve the proposed fees set out in the tables at paragraphs 2.0 and 2.1 of the report with an implementation date of 1 April 2024.

Note that Register Office Ceremonies will continue to be offered at the statutory fee rate every

Tuesday.

The Reasons are:

The report sets out the proposal to increase fees from 1 April 2024 for Wedding Ceremonies in line with the tables at paragraphs 2.0 and 2.1 of this report. In reaching these proposals benchmarking with other authorities has been undertaken and the Councils policies and procedures have been considered. In order to ensure that these fees are in line with the Council’s anti-poverty strategy, the proposals include the continuation of the offer of a Register Office Ceremony every Tuesday for the statutory fee of £57.

Options considered and rejected were:

• Not to increase fees – however, current fees were set in 2019, and are below average across GM Authorities and therefore are not cost effective or realistic
• To offer a nominal increase in fees – this would be unrealistic and not in line with other authorities as fees proposed are to be implemented in 2024

Assessment of Risk:

Assessed within the Equalities Impact Assessment (EIA) and no significant impact on low income

groups/ race/religion. The EIA has been published with this report.

The source of funding is: N/A

Legal Advice obtained: N/A

Financial Advice obtained:

Forms part of the income generation strategy for the office, whilst still remaining at a competitive level across the GM Authorities.

Procurement Advice obtained: N/A

HR Advice obtained: N/A

Climate Change Advice obtained: N/A

The following documents have been used to assist the decision-making process:

Report to Lead Member Briefing.

Contact Officer: Rebecca Wardley  Tel. 0161 603 6880     Email: rebecca.wardley@salford.govuk

This decision is not subject to consideration by another Lead Member.

The appropriate scrutiny panel to call-in the decision is the Overview & Scrutiny Board.

For Democratic Services use only:

This decision was published on 28^th February 2023.

This decision will come into effect at 4.00 p.m. on 7^th March 2023, unless it is called-in in accordance with the decision-making process rules.

No items.