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Review of Discretionary Charity Relief Policy Presentation to Ealing Community Network 18 Jan 2011. Introductions Steve Wells – Head of Revenues Simon George – Director of Corporate Finance and Audit Jane Pearson – Business Rates Manager. Business Rates.
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Review of Discretionary Charity Relief Policy Presentation to Ealing Community Network 18 Jan 2011
Introductions • Steve Wells – Head of Revenues • Simon George – Director of Corporate Finance and Audit • Jane Pearson – Business Rates Manager
Business Rates • National tax collected by local authorities • Money paid into central pool • Business rates helps to fund local authority services • Valuation Officer Agency (not Ealing Council) • compile a list of all properties • decide whether a property should be exempt and not rated • determine rateable values – the basis for charges • Central Government decide on multiplier – annual charges
Business Rates Charity Relief and exemptions • Charities • Registered Charities and Community Amateur entitled to 80% mandatory relief • Ealing has discretion to give up to a further 20% relief • Relief for other ‘not for profit’ organisations • Exemptions from rating, examples • A place of public religious worship • Church halls and similar buildings used in connection with worship • Properties used for the disabled
Current relief policy • Registered Charities and Community Amateur Sports Clubs • All receive 80% mandatory relief • Apart from some exceptions all get 20% top up relief • Relief given to other ‘not for profit’ organisations • Up to 100% • No time period for relief – continues indefinitely • Relief granted by ‘blanket policy’ – not case by case
Ealing’s budget position • Very tough government grant settlement • 20% reduction in grants • £55 million savings put forward in November 2010 • Further savings required • Efficiency Savings • Management reductions • Staff reductions • Front line service reductions
Proposed new policy • Commences April 2012 • Applications invited Summer 2011 • Case by case considerations – how does the use of business property contribute to Ealing Council’s priorities • May be limited to 80% relief for registered charities and CASC’s • Decisions made on applications in November 2012 – as part of annual budget process • Decide on relief annually in advance of new financial year
Proposed new policy • Current view is to grant 100% relief for • Community and Day Centres • Law Centres currently in receipt of relief • Scouts, Guides and Ambulance groups • Consider awards in line with annual budget process • Limit budget to £46,000 per annum wef 2012 • Grant full relief to above organisations, or • Grant to a wider range of organisations within £46,000 limit • Award a higher (or lower) amount of relief
Consultation • Membership • What are buildings used for • How many people use the services provided • Potential impact of reduction to 80% • Specific impacts on users from each equality group • Decisions made annually in advance – what impact? • Decisions on case by case basis – what impact? • 100% relief for certain groups only – what impact? • Any other comments?
Consultation • Return forms by noon Thursday 3 February 2010 • Decision on new policy 22 February 2011 • Decisions on relief for 2012/13 made in November 2011
More information:Business Rates Telephone contact number:+44 (0) 20 8825 7020 Email: Revenues@ealing.gov.ukValuation Officer +44 (0) 20 8276 2800