Decision details

In emerging and expanding business parks, such as Fradley Business Park, businesses often expand and grow their units/floorspace in creative ways – for example adding mezzanine floors – which are then not easily captured on the Valuation Office Agency’s list, so business rate charges may not be appropriately levied.

Whilst the revenues team does its best to track and trace any new businesses in the area, it does not have a mechanism for identifying new spaces within existing rated units and does not have the capacity to actively pursue businesses to determine whether such new rateable value exists within the district.

The council is keen to work with a company called Capacity Grid to carry out a pilot to determine whether an active approach to identifying new rateable value within the district could generate positive results.

Long-term any new rateable value added to the list would benefit the district council, which retains a percentage of business rates it collects. It will also benefit other precepting authorities including the county, police, fire and parish councils. Any additional revenue can then be used to fund local services.

Capacity Grid charge a percentage fee for their work. The pilot will be limited to a maximum spend of £75,000 with Capacity Grid. This spend will be met by the additional business rates revenue generated.

Approval is sought to progress the pilot within this financial year (2023-24).

The Cabinet Member for Finance & Commissioning approved a Business Rates Pilot on the basis that this will maximise business rates revenue to the district council, up to a maximum spend of £75,000.