This council agrees with the DCLG’s recent ‘Parades to be Proud of’ report that local parades shops are crucial to the economy of Leeds and play a vital role in the character and identity of our local communities.
Council notes with concern the very real hardships that many of our local shops are experiencing in the current economic climate, especially new independent shops trying to establish themselves.
Council welcomes recent moves by the government to allow local authorities to keep hold of the business rates they collect and to introduce discretionary rate relief schemes based on criteria of their choosing.
Council calls on officers to investigate and report back to Executive Board within six months on how these powers could be most effectively used to support local Leeds shops, including but not limited to:
· Discretionary rate relief schemes that incentivise bringing empty units back into use, particularly by new businesses .
· Ring-fencing of business rates income in some areas to help regenerate the communities in which it is collected.
R DOWNES
Minutes:
It was moved by Councillor Downes, seconded by Councillor A Blackburn that this Council agrees with the DCLG’s recent ‘Parades to be Proud of’ report that local parades shops are crucial to the economy of Leeds and play a vital role in the character and identity of our local communities.
Council notes with concern the very real hardships that many of our local shops are experiencing in the current economic climate, especially new independent shops trying to establish themselves.
Council welcomes recent moves by the Government to allow local authorities to keep hold of the business rates they collect and to introduce discretionary rate relief schemes based on criteria of their choosing.
Council calls on officers to investigate and report back to Executive Board within six months on how these powers could be most effectively used to support local Leeds shops, including but not limited to:-
· discretionary rate relief schemes that incentivise bringing empty units back into use, particularly by new businesses;
· ring-fencing of business rates income in some areas to help regenerate the communities in which it is collected.
An amendment was moved by Councillor Wakefield, seconded by Councillor Lowe that this Council agrees with the DCLG’s recent ‘Parades to be Proud of’ report that local parades’ shops are crucial to the economy of Leeds and play a vital role in the character and identity of our local communities.
Council notes with concern the very real hardships that many of our local shops are experiencing in the current economic climate.
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‘Council therefore reiterates its on-going commitment to initiatives such as the Town and District Regeneration Scheme, which since 2005 has aimed to encourage regeneration, increase business and investor confidence and create an improved shopping environment for local people.
Council also reaffirms its intention to continue the current rate relief schemes designed to encourage owners to bring empty shops back into use.
In light of Government proposals regarding business rate retention, Council recognises the complexity of factors influencing the potential growth of the business rates tax base and notes that many factors are outside the control of the local authority.
In the context of the unprecedented pressure on Council finances, members note with concern that the plans for local retention of business rates will see the transfer of risk from central to local government, which will introduce further uncertainty into the council’s annual funding.
Council underlines its commitment to help support and stimulate the local economy, and calls on the Director of City Development to establish a working group to consider and report back to Executive Board on additional initiatives that could assist local shops in Leeds including:
· The development of an urban equivalent of rural rate relief.
· Time limited relief for independent retailers providing a unique, valued service to a local area.
· Further opportunities to support the creation of BIDs in line with local demand.’
The amendment in the name of Councillor Wakefield was carried, and upon being put as the substantive motion, it was
RESOLVED – That this Council agrees with the DCLG’s recent ‘Parades to be Proud of’ report that local parades’ shops are crucial to the economy of Leeds and play a vital role in the character and identity of our local communities.
Council notes with concern the very real hardships that many of our local shops are experiencing in the current economic climate.
Council therefore reiterates its on-going commitment to initiatives such as the Town and District Regeneration Scheme, which since 2005 has aimed to encourage regeneration, increase business and investor confidence and create an improved shopping environment for local people.
Council also reaffirms its intention to continue the current rate relief schemes designed to encourage owners to bring empty shops back into use.
In light of Government proposals regarding business rate retention, Council recognises the complexity of factors influencing the potential growth of the business rates tax base and notes that many factors are outside the control of the local authority.
In the context of the unprecedented pressure on Council finances, members note with concern that the plans for local retention of business rates will see the transfer of risk from central to local government, which will introduce further uncertainty into the council’s annual funding.
Council underlines its commitment to help support and stimulate the local economy, and calls on the Director of City Development to establish a working group to consider and report back to Executive Board on additional initiatives that could assist local shops in Leeds including:
· The development of an urban equivalent of rural rate relief.
· Time limited relief for independent retailers providing a unique, valued service to a local area.
· Further opportunities to support the creation of BIDs in line with local demand.