The council wants to hear people’s views on how it should support charities with business rate relief in the future.
Currently, the council offers the full 20% discretionary business rate relief to all charities based in the borough. The support is paid for out of the council’s budget and is in addition to the automatic 80% relief the government provides.
This means that charities pay no business rates at all for commercial properties they occupy in Bracknell Forest.
Our offer is generous compared to other local authorities as it gives the maximum discount to all – regardless of the charity’s size or what support they provide.
It is automatically applied to all local, regional, national, and international charities based in the borough. Most other local authorities have restrictions or caps in place with the average rate of relief being around 2.5%.
There is no evidence that the local system has been reviewed since the council became a unitary in 1998.
Given the council’s current and future financial challenge and tight budget, now is the right time to look at what discretionary support we can continue to provide to charities. We want to make sure we have a fair, equitable and affordable system in place to benefit and support the local community.
We want to hear the views of residents, local organisations, charities, voluntary, community and faith groups and other interested groups on what support the council should offer going forward.
Therefore, public consultation for feedback and thoughts will run until 5pm on Wednesday 22 January.
Cllr Kathryn Neil, cabinet member for finance and corporate improvement, said:
“Currently, Bracknell Forest Council provides the maximum level of support to charities when it comes to discretionary business rate relief.
“We automatically provide the full 20% discount to all charities based in the borough, this costs the council and its taxpayers around £155,000 a year. The discount is provided regardless of what the charity is and who it helps. This approach is much more generous than what other councils offer as most have caps and conditions in place.
“Charities are an important part of our community and help many people. However, our budget is becoming more and more squeezed and so we need to have a look at what support we can afford to provide in future.
“Our intention is to make sure we continue to fairly support charities that are most in need financially and those that support our local community. However, we need to understand what our local community wants us to do before we consider any changes to our current policy – please have your say through the consultation.”
Charitable organisations have been invited to have their say directly.
Residents and other interested groups can have their say through the online consultation on our website.
You can also find out more and ask questions at an engagement session. Sessions will run on:
- Monday, 13 January from 7.30pm - 9pm (virtual). Email amy.ma@bracknell-forest.gov.uk for the Teams link.
- Wednesday, 15 January from 3.30pm to 5pm or 7.30pm to 9pm in the Council Chamber, Time Square, Market Street, RG12 1JD.
Any agreed revisions to the policy would be subject to a minimum 12 month notice period for current recipients.
New applicants would be assessed against the approved policy at the time their request is received.
If you need a reasonable adjustment to complete the consultation, please call 01344 352000 or email customer.services@bracknell-forest.gov.uk.