Issue - meetings

Medium-Term Financial Plan Budget Update and Consultation Report 2026-27 to 2028-29 - Business Rates Pool

The Portfolio Holder for Finance presented the Medium-Term Financial Plan Budget Update and Consultation Report 2026-27 to 2028-29 - Business Rates Pool report for Members’ consideration.

Council was informed that, under the Local Government and Finance Act 2012, Councils could enter into business rates pools.  The Government’s deadline for Councils to submit proposals to enter a business rates pool for 2026/27 was 24^th November 2025.  Councils could only enter a business rates pool if the authority would be no worse off financially as a consequence of joining a pool.  The Council had previously taken part in the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Business Rates Pool so a decision to join on this occasion would ensure continuity.

In discussing this matter, Members noted that the report had been pre-scrutinised at a meeting of the Budget Scrutiny Working Group held earlier in the month when Members had supported the proposal to join the pool.

RESOLVED that

the minutes of the Executive Committee meeting held on 6^th November 2025 be approved and all recommendations adopted.