Mr Green updated the Committee on the progress with the enhanced Business Rates Retention Pilot for 2019/20. Mr Green explained that the Government was offering a Business Rates retention pilot for 2019/20, but would the terms would be 75% retention of growth in Business Rates and not 100% as was the case with the 2018/19 pilot. The reason given by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government for this was that a 100% retention scheme would require primary legislation and there was not enough time in the parliamentary calendar to legislate for this change. However it was possible to move forward with 75% retention without requiring a change in the law.

In order to maximise the chance of success for the bid, some adjustments of the bid for 2019/20 were required. One of the key adjustments required was to ensure that top tier authorities received a greater proportion of funding to recognise the pressure their Child and Adult Social Care budgets were under.

Delegated authority to the Director of Finance and Business Improvement was required for the decision as the bid was a joint bid and would only be finalised at a meeting of Kent Council Leaders immediately prior to submission of the bid.

RESOLVED:

That delegated authority is grated to the Director of Finance and Business Improvement, in consultation with the Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee, to sign off a joint Kent proposal for a 75% Business Rates Pilot, together with the associated governance arrangements, on behalf of Maidstone Borough Council.

Voting: Unanimous