Agenda and minutes

            Under the provisions of Section 47 of the Local Government Finance Act, 1988, the authority is allowed to grant discretionary rate relief to organisations who were either a charity or a non-profit-making organisation. The Sub-Committee considered a report which set out details of four applications for discretionary non domestic rate relief from:-

 

i)       Focus Institute of Gymnastics;

ii)      Halton Autistic Family Support Group Limited;

iii)     Halton District Citizen Advice Bureaux Service; and

iv)     SHAP Limited.

 

         RESOLVED: That

 

(1)    under the provisions of Section 47, Local Government Finance Act 1988, discretionary rate relief be granted to the following organisations at the percentage indicated, for the period from 1^st April 2008 or the commencement of liability, whichever is the later, to 31^st March 2009:

 

Focus Institute of Gymnastics – 20%

Halton Autistic Family Support Group Limited – 20%

Halton District Citizen Advice Bureaux Service – 20%

 

(2)       in respect of the following organisations, it was also recommended that they should be granted discretionary rate relief for the backdated element of the charge:

 

Halton Autistic Family Support Group Limited – 20%

Halton District Citizen Advice Bureaux Service – 20%

 

(3)    Under the provisions of Section 47, Local Government Finance Act 1988, the following application for discretionary rate relief be refused:

 

SHAP Limited – 20%

            The Board was advised on three quotations received to supply DNA Forensic property marking equipment for the benefit of all businesses located on Astmoor and Halebank Industrial Estates. The quotations were appraised on the basis of purchasing:

 

-           120 business kits and 20 signs for Astmoor; and

-           40 business kits and 10 signs for Halebank.

 

            The purchase of DNA Forensic property marking equipment could not be made on the basis of price alone. The following factors were relevant in the decision-making process:

 

i)            Contents of each DNA forensic property marking kit;

ii)            number of items the kit could property mark;

iii)        level of Police support for each system;

iv)            previous uses of DNA Forensic property marking kit;

v)         track record and publicity of each system.

 

            Following assessment it was proposed that the SmartWater Technologies Limited system should be purchased as this system provided property marking stickers, window stickers and a UV lamp in each kit, provided estate signage, was high profile in the media and had support from Cheshire Constabulary. The two quotations in the sum of £5,998.80 and £1,999.60 had been awarded to SmartWater Technologies Limited for DNA Forensic property marking equipment.

 

            RESOLVED: That the appointment of SmartWater Technologies Limited be approved.

            The Sub-Committee considered the proposed fees and charges to be applied by the Promotions and Tourism service for the financial year 2008/09. It was proposed to increase the current fees and charges by 2.5% in 2008/09, which was consistent with increases applied by other departments in the Council.

 

            In order to ensure that the fees and charges offered a degree of flexibility to enable discounting and special offers to be made for bulk purchasing etc., it was proposed that the Promotions and Tourism Manager agree any such offers in advance with the Operational Director for Regeneration and that a record be maintained for audit purposes.

 

            RESOLVED: That the proposed fees and charges for 2008/09 as set out in the report be approved.

MINUTES ISSUED: 20^th June 2008

CALL IN:  27^th June 2008

Any matter decided by the Executive Board Sub Committee may be called in no later than 27^th June 2008