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Question from: County Councillor Iain McIntosh Subject: Business rates query
Question:
During the recent Powys County Council election campaign, Welsh Liberal Democrats wrote to Powys residents claiming ‘These elections are vital as they will determine who is responsible for vital local services including education, roads and infrastructure, refuse collection, business rates and council tax among many other items.’
Can the Leader and appropriate Cabinet member please indicate how they believe Powys County Council are responsible for business rates? If this authority has no responsibility over business rates other than on a rate collection basis for Welsh Government, can the Leader and other elected Liberal Democrat councillors please issue an apology to Powys residents for distributing a misleading letter during the election campaign?
Minutes: Response by the Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Transformation:
Thank you for your question. We believe there are no grounds to issue an apology for the contents of a letter from Welsh Liberal Democrat candidates during the recent council election campaign with regard to Powys County Council’s responsibilities in relation to Non-Domestic Rates (NDRs). Although you are correct to say that the Council has responsibility for the billing and collection of NDRs on behalf of the Welsh Government and does not directly set policy around Business Rates, the council does have responsibility for determining the application of exemptions and reliefs to charities, not-for profit bodies and hardship reliefs; and for defining our local discretionary scheme policy elements. We have administered various other schemes on behalf of Welsh Government including one-off schemes such as retail, leisure & hospitality relief, providing a reduction in rates bill for many Powys businesses.
We also have a role in ensuring the rating list remains accurate by submitting proposals to VOA for new entries, deletions, amendments and Section 44a (part occupied) certificates etc.
The Council also has its part to play in economic development. Attracting new business to the county increases the level of Business Rates generated, which in turn increases the value of the all Wales NNDR pool, which is redistributed to Local Authorities through the Welsh Government settlement.
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