Agenda and minutes

There were no declaration of interest.

Further to media reports following the last meeting, Councillor Gannon clarified that he does not work for either University in the City.

Briefing Note of the Executive Director of Resources

Councillor O’Boyle, Cabinet Member for Jobs and Regeneration has been invited to the meeting for the consideration of this item.

Further to Minute 15, the Committee considered a Briefing Note of the Executive Director of Resources appended to which were two Appendices detailing proposed responses to two consultation papers published by the Government regarding proposals for 100% localisation of Business Rates.

 At the request of the Committee, the Briefing Note also provided information on the potential for pooling of business rates within the Combined Authority and the Council’s strategy for maximising business rates income. The Committee noted that since the production of the Briefing Note, the situation had changed and it was now possible for the Council to remain within the Coventry and Warwickshire Business Rate pool and join the WMCA Business Rate pilot.

The Committee asked officers questions and sought clarification on a number of issues including:-

  ?  The position regarding Universities (which was not mentioned in the

  consultation)

?  Initial consideration regarding the range of associated budgets that

  could to pooled at the Combined Authority level

?  The role of LEP’s in relation to the process for approving levies

?  How funding/budgets would be calculated and reset post 2020

?  Matters relating to “fair funding” and the complexities of issues

  relating to this matter

  ?  Coventry’s ability to grow Business Rate in the future given it’s

  geographical constraints

The Committee recognised that the two consultations documents were only the first stages of the Business Rates Reform and that there would be a series of further consultations on this matter.

The Committee did not identify any substantive amendments to the proposed consultation responses and thanked the officers for their attendance and comprehensive responses.

RESOLVED:-

1)  That the responses to the consultation documents appended to the report be noted.

2)  That officers be requested to submit further consultation documents in relation to Business Rates Reform to the Committee as and when they become available. 

Any other items of public business which the Chair decides to take as matters of urgency because of the special circumstances involved.

There were no other items of public business.