Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Interim Chief Finance Officer (copy enclosed).

The Committee considered the report of the Interim Chief Finance Officer seeking Member’s approval of the Rural Settlement List (the List) for the financial year 2025 / 26 (attached at Appendix A to the report) to determine and award Rural Rate Relief to eligible businesses.

The report highlighted some proposed minor changes to the existing Rural Settlement List as detailed below and advised that of the businesses benefitting from the relief none would be impacted by these changes:

·                ‘Althorne, North’ and ‘Althorne, South’ would be combined as ‘Althorne’

·                ‘Bradwell on Sea’ and ‘Bradwell waterside’ would be combined as ‘Bradwell’

·                ‘North Fambridge, North’ and ‘North Fambridge, South’ would be combined as ‘North Fambridge’

In response to a question regarding the above proposed changes, the Assistant Director - Customer Services and Operations advised that the review had been informed by and was to align it with the Local Development Plan (LDP) evidence update. The previous Rural Settlement List had been based on historic information which was why the review had been undertaken. In response to a question the Assistant Director advised that if Members were not mindful to agree the revised list, the Committee could agree to revert to the current list this financial year (2024 25).

Councillor W Stamp proposed that the Rural Settlement List not be agreed as it didn’t accord with the LDP ongoing process. This proposal was not supported. In response to the proposal, Officers clarified that if a Rural Settlement List was not agreed this meant that any business currently receiving a rural rate relief would not be able to receive any relief for 2025 / 26, as the Rural Settlement List had to be renewed each year.

Following further discussion, Councillor R H Siddall proposed that the Rural Settlement List agreed in November 2023 be approved and that the Council abide by the List created at that time. This proposal was duly seconded.

The Chairperson moved the proposal in the name of Councillor Siddall and upon a vote being taken this was duly agreed.

Councillor A M Lay joined the meeting during this item of business but abstained from the vote.

RESOLVED that the Rural Settlement List as agreed in November 2023 be approved.