Issue - meetings

The Cabinet is requested to consider the agenda report and its appendix and to make the proposed resolution set out below:

That the amended Rural Settlement List be approved for publication as set out in the appendix to the agenda report.

RESOLVED

That the amended Rural Settlement List be approved for publication as set out in the appendix to the agenda report subject to a further check of the boundaries by the Head of Finance and Governance Services.

The Cabinet received and considered the agenda report and its appendix.

The report was presented by Mrs Hardwick.

Mr Jobson was in attendance for this item.

In commending the Rural Settlement List (RSL) to be approved for publication, Mrs Hardwick explained that it identified rural settlements in Chichester District for the purposes of allocating Rural Rate Relief. The relief was funded by the government to assist rural communities by allowing small rural businesses such as village shops, post offices, pubs and petrol stations to receive business rate relief. 

One of the proposed changes was to recognise that Hampers Green was a rural settlement in its own right as distinct from Petworth town.  The existing wider defined area within Petworth parish, which was currently known as Petworth for the purposes of the list and contained Petworth town and Hampers Green, was likely to exceed the population limit of 3,000.  Although no businesses currently were in receipt of such relief, it was proposed to recognise the Hampers Green settlement as a distinct rural settlement so that the potential for rural rate relief continued to be available for both these areas as in other parishes across Chichester District.

Mr Jobson commented that the RSL was only for non-domestic rates and that CDC was able to draw and amend the settlement boundaries.

Mr Jobson responded to questions on points of detail with regard to (a) the correct parish for Maudlin; (b) how for RSL purposes the boundary was redrawn for Hampers Green in accordance with the regulations; and (c) the boundaries for other areas within Chichester District such as East Wittering and Bracklesham would be reviewed during the next 12 months and if members had points or concern they were welcome to notify Mr Jobson.

Mr Dignum proposed with the Cabinet’s agreement that the following words should be added to the end of the recommendation in para 2.1 of the report: ‘subject to a further check of the boundaries by the Head of Finance and Governance Services’.

Decision

The Cabinet voted unanimously on a show of hands to make the resolution below.  

RESOLVED

That the amended Rural Settlement List be approved for publication as set out in the appendix to the agenda report subject to a further check of the boundaries by the Head of Finance and Governance Services.