Issue - meetings

This item was referred to Full Council for a final decision.

The Committee had before it a report by the Head of Finance, which provided information in relation to business rates relief granted under both the national Transitional Relief Scheme and the local rates relief scheme.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       note the position relative to the number and value of relief cases granted under the national transitional relief scheme and the local rates relief scheme; and

(b)       note that 8 applications for the local relief scheme were received after the deadline and will therefore not be considered for approval.

The Convener, seconded by the Vice Convener moved:-

That the Committee agrees recommendations (a) and (b) above with the addition of the following:-

(1)       that the Council extend the closing date for applications to the 2017/18 local relief scheme from 30 September 2017 until 31 March 2018; and

(2)       that this Council instructs the Chief Executive to write to the Scottish Government calling on them to extend the current National Scheme to provide business rate support for the Fish Processing Industry for 2018/19 similar to that afforded to the hospitality industry in 2017/18.

Councillor Flynn, seconded by Councillor Yuill moved as an amendment:-

That the Committee agrees recommendations (a) and (b) above with the addition of the following:-

(1)       that the Council extend the closing date for applications to the 2017/18 local relief scheme from 30 September 2017 until 31 March 2018;

(2)       agree, that the Council has the power to offer discretionary non-domestic rates relief to business in Aberdeen. Therefore, instructs the Head of Finance to include within the Council’s budget setting processes for 2018/19 the allocation of £1.02million towards Non-Domestic Rates Relief for the manufacturing sector, which includes the fish processing sector, and that this relief will be capped at 100% for all rates increases above 12.5% with a tone date of 2016/17; and

(3)       note that this relief package is required in order to help support the sector at a time when its future is deeply uncertain due to the policy of the UK Government to pursue a ‘Hard Brexit’ which lacks clarity on the residence status of EU Nationals working in manufacturing – and more specifically, fish processing sector.

On a division, there voted:- for the motion (9) – the Convener, the Vice Convener and Councillors Allan, Houghton, John, Macdonald, Reynolds, Sellar and Wheeler; for the amendment (8) – Councillors Cameron, Flynn, Hutchison, Catriona MacKenzie, MacLellan, Nicoll, Townson and Yuill.

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the motion.

In terms of Standing Order 31.1, Councillor Yuill intimated that he would like this matter to be referred to full Council in order for a final decision to be taken.  Councillor Yuill was supported by Councillors Cameron, Flynn, Hutchison, Catriona MacKenzie, MacLellan, Nicoll and Townson.