Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Chief Officer (Financial Services) which, following the success of the 7 Leeds City Region (LCR) authorities to be designated as a 50% retention business rates pool from 1st April 2021, provides an update on the successful application for a new 2021/22 LCR Business Rates Pool; notes the revocation of the 2020/21 North & West Yorkshire Business Rates pool; seeks approval regarding the Leader’s position on this Joint Committee, and agreement of the Memorandum of Understanding and Terms of Reference for the 2021/22 LCR Business Rates Pool.

The Chief Officer (Financial Services) submitted a report which, following the success of the 7 Leeds City Region (LCR) authorities to be designated as a 50% retention business rates pool from 1st April 2021, provided an update on the successful application for a new 2021/22 LCR Business Rates Pool; noted the revocation of the 2020/21 North & West Yorkshire Business Rates pool; sought approval regarding the Leader of Council’s position on the associated Joint Committee for 2021/22, together with agreement of the Memorandum of Understanding and Terms of Reference for the 2021/22 LCR Business Rates Pool.

Responding to a Member’s enquiry regarding the availability of public information on the decisions taken by the business rates pool and the availability of that information for the relevant Scrutiny Board, it was noted that the decisions taken by the pool would continue to be published and would be available for consideration.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the update on the new 2021/22 Leeds City Region Business Rates Pool, as detailed within the submitted report, be noted;

(b)  That the revoking of the 2020/21 North & West Yorkshire Business Rates Pool on 31st March 2021, be noted, and that agreement be given to disband the current North & West Yorkshire Pool Joint Committee on the same date;

(c)  That agreement be given to appoint the Leader of Council to a new Joint Committee to oversee the new Leeds City Region Business Rates Pool, with such a Joint Committee to consist of the Leaders of those Authorities as specified in paragraph 3.2.3 of the submitted report, and which would have the Terms of Reference as submitted;

(d)  That the Memorandum of Understanding, as presented at Appendix B to the submitted report, which sets out the governance arrangements for the Leeds City Region Business Rates Pool, be noted and agreed;

(e)  That the Terms of Reference for the new Leeds City Region Joint Committee, as detailed at Appendix C to the submitted report, be noted and approved;

(f)  That the necessary authority be delegated to the City Solicitor to enable the City Solicitor to seek the formal agreement of the other 6 members of the Pool to the new arrangements.