Decision

The Cabinet has decided to introduce a local discretionary relief scheme for eligible pubs and rural businesses, funded from the underspend on the previous year's budget.

Analysis

outcome: The Cabinet approved the introduction of the relief scheme to be funded from the underspend on the 2025/26 revenue budget.

summary: The decision involves introducing a local discretionary relief scheme to provide further relief for eligible pubs and/or rural businesses during 2026/27.

topline: The Cabinet has decided to introduce a local discretionary relief scheme for eligible pubs and rural businesses, funded from the underspend on the previous year's budget.

reason_contentious: This issue may be contentious as it involves government policies on business rates and how they impact rural communities and businesses.

affected_stakeholders: ["Pubs", "Rural businesses", "Local government", "Government"]

contentiousness_score: 6

political_party_relevance: The decision involves raising concerns with the government, indicating potential political influence.

URL: https://democratic.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=1974

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Purpose:

Content: RESOLVED: That Cabinet (a) Approves the introduction of a local discretionary relief scheme, providing further relief for eligible pubs and/or rural businesses during 2026/27 to be funded from the underspend on the 2025/26 revenue budget. (b) Approves scheme criteria and conditions, as set out in the report for both options A and E, which either replicates the Government’s new pub relief qualifying criteria and/or other rural rate qualifying criteria (with certain exceptions). (c) Requests that the Council Leader writes to government to raise concerns regarding how business rates impact rural communities and businesses unfairly and ask for a review of how business rates are calculated.  

Date of Decision: July 3, 2026