Decision details

This report follows a report of 23rd June 2022 where the COVID-19 Additional Relief Fund (CARF) scheme Phase 1 allocation was approved. This report requests approval from Cabinet Member for Finance and Low Carbon for the proposed methodology for the allocation of the remaining unspent CARF grant to maximise the grant funding in full.

RESOLVED - That the Council adopts the preferred methodology outlined in Option 1 below and in Sections 3.2 (1) and 4 of the detailed report for Phase 2 allocations.

Option 1 - To ensure the benefit of the CARF scheme is maximised, it is proposed the Council undertake a further exercise to automatically award relief to businesses likely to be eligible for support. The relevant criteria are outlined in Appendix A and follows Government Guidance.
Under this option, the proposed methodology would be to award relief on the basis of the Business Rates payable for the 2021/22 financial year. The distributions would be calculated as follows
- 20% CARF Relief of the net liability between 1st April 2022 and 31st March 2023.
This would result in a distribution of £3,298,716.41 leaving £100,703.38 to fund potential appeals and represents 20% of the net payable rates for the 2021/22 financial for each eligible business.
Option 2 - To award relief on the basis of the Business Rates payable for the 2021/22 financial year. The distributions would be calculated as follows:
•50% CARF Relief up to 30th June 2021
•10% CARF Relief from 1st July 2021 to 31st March 2022
This would result in a distribution of £3.294,197.62 leaving £105,222.17 to fund potential appeals and represents 19.97% of the net payable rates for the 2021/22 financial for each eligible business.

Option 2

Consultation with Finance and Legal Officers in conjunction with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Low Carbon and the Director of Finance.