The Rating Advisory Panel of Westminster Council was scheduled to consider applications for discretionary and hardship relief under the National Non-Domestic Rates (NNDR) system. The meeting's agenda indicated that the panel would also note any changes to its membership and receive declarations of interest from members.

NNDR Discretionary and Hardship Relief Applications

The primary focus of the meeting was scheduled to be the consideration of numerous applications for National Non-Domestic Rates (NNDR) discretionary and hardship relief. These applications, detailed across a substantial report pack, would have been presented to the panel for review. The report pack contained information relating to these applications, with specific pages referenced for each item. The panel was expected to examine these requests, which fall under the remit of the Local Government Act 1972, with a recommendation that the public and press be excluded from these discussions due to the likely disclosure of exempt information.

The agenda indicated that the panel would consider applications for relief from businesses and organisations seeking financial assistance with their business rates. These reliefs are a mechanism for local authorities to support businesses facing financial difficulties or to encourage specific types of economic activity within their area. The report pack, which spans over 200 pages, suggests a significant number of such applications were put forward for the panel's consideration.

The report pack itself is a comprehensive document, with individual pages flagged as containing exempt information under paragraph(s) 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. This legislation allows for the exclusion of the public and press from meetings when sensitive financial or commercial information is being discussed, provided that the public interest in maintaining confidentiality outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

The agenda also included standard procedural items such as noting any changes to the panel's membership and receiving declarations of interest from members. Councillor Concia Albert was listed as the Chair of the Rating Advisory Panel. Other members scheduled to attend included Councillor Robert Eagleton (Deputy Cabinet Member - Housing), Councillor Patrick Lilley (Deputy Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Lead Member for Soho and LGBTQ+ Champion), Councillor Selina Short, and Councillor Martin Hayes. The meeting was scheduled to take place at Westminster City Hall.