Changes to discretionary business rate relief policy

Audience: public, voluntary and community sector organisations

This consultation is now closed. It was open from 5 June 2018 to 24 June 2018.

From 1 April 2019, Forest Heath District Council and St Edmundsbury Borough Council will be replaced by a single West Suffolk Council, covering the same geographic area. This means that from 1 April 2019, there needs to be a single approach to discretionary business rate reliefs across the whole of the West Suffolk area, instead of the two separate policies currently used by Forest Heath and St Edmundsbury.

The changes only apply to the voluntary and community sector and gives us an opportunity to unify how we support these vital organisations in a fair way. The single new approach that is being considered is likely to have either no impact or be favourable to all organisations who currently receive discretionary rate relief. It may also allow some new organisation to be eligible for the relief. However, before we introduce it, we want to be sure that the new approach is workable and fair and will achieve our goal of encouraging a thriving voluntary and community sector in West Suffolk.

We are therefore seeking any comments on our proposed approach, as set out below, to be sent to avril.raven@westsuffolk.gov.uk by 24 June 2018. The proposals will then be considered by councillors in July 2018 with a view to them coming into effect in rates bills for the 2019-20 billing year.

Read the details of our proposed approach.