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Cabinet Member for Finance Decision Meeting - Monday, 7 September 2026 - 10.00 am
September 7, 2026 at 10:00 am Cabinet Member for Finance Decision Meeting View on council website Watch video of meeting Read transcript (Professional subscription required)Summary
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The Cabinet Member for Finance, Councillor Patrick Coleman, approved discretionary Council Tax discounts for two households facing financial hardship due to health issues and employment difficulties. The meeting also considered applications for Discretionary Rate Relief, approving applications for two community organisations while refusing two others based on their financial reserves.
Council Tax Discounts Approved
The meeting approved two applications for discretionary Council Tax discounts under Section 13A of the Local Government Finance Act 19921.
The first decision granted a discount of £1,184.26 to a household in the Rissingtons Ward. This decision was made due to significant health issues affecting both adult members of the household, leading to the cessation of their employment and reliance on welfare benefits. An income and expenditure assessment by Citizens Advice revealed a monthly budget deficit of £7.26, with no capacity to repay the Council Tax arrears from the 2025/26 financial year. The household is now in receipt of 100% Council Tax Support. Councillor Coleman described the case as straightforward and clear,
noting the severe health challenges and the modest Band B property.
The second Council Tax discount was awarded to a resident in the Kemble Ward. This decision provided a discount of £65 to clear arrears from the 2025/26 financial year and a further discount of £680.24, equivalent to 50% of their net Council Tax liability for 2026/27. The applicant is in full-time employment in the adult social care sector but faces significant financial pressures from rent, oil heating costs, and essential vehicle running costs, resulting in a net income of approximately £20,000 per year after deductions. Councillor Coleman remarked that this was a striking case,
highlighting the modern challenges of student loan repayments and private rental costs.
Discretionary Rate Relief Decisions
The Cabinet Member for Finance also considered applications for Discretionary Rate Relief under Section 47 of the Local Government Finance Act 19882.
Approved Applications:
- Baden Powell Hall in Bourton Village3 received approved discretionary rate relief. This not-for-profit community hall is run by volunteers and used by various groups, including Scouts, Cubs, and Beavers. Its activities were noted to support the Council's priorities around health, wellbeing, and a vibrant economy.
- Palmer Hall Management also had its application for discretionary rate relief approved. This community hall supports health and wellbeing and enables a vibrant economy.
Refused Applications:
- King George V Playing Field Northleach Trust and Friends of the Cotswolds had their applications for discretionary rate relief refused. Officers assessed that both organisations held sufficient income, expenditure, and reserves to meet their business rates liability. Councillor Coleman emphasised that these refusals were not a reflection on the value of the work these organisations undertake for their communities.
The meeting entered a private session to discuss the exempt financial details of the applications recommended for refusal before returning to public session to announce the final decisions.
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Section 13A of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 grants local authorities the discretion to reduce an individual's Council Tax liability in exceptional circumstances. ↩
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Section 47 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 allows local authorities to grant discretionary rate relief to charities and other non-profit organisations. ↩
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Bourton Village is located in the Cotswolds. ↩
Delegated decisions linked to this meeting
Decision summaries below are AI-generated from the council’s published record. Check the council source or the full decision page before relying on them.
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Officer overview of the report
Recommendations ApprovedThe Cabinet Member for Finance of Cotswold Council approved recommendations on 07/09/2026. A discretionary discount of £65 was approved to clear 2025/26 arrears, and a discretionary discount of £680.24 was approved for 2026/27.
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Cabinet Member Introduction
Recommendations ApprovedThe Cabinet Member for Finance of Cotswold Council approved recommendations on 07 September 2026. The Cabinet Member welcomed attendees and confirmed the meeting was being held in public and streamed.
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Declarations of Interest
Recommendations ApprovedThe Cabinet Member for Finance confirmed he had no interests to declare. No officers present declared any interest.
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Public Questions
Recommendations ApprovedThe Cabinet Member for Finance, Cotswold Council, noted that no public questions were raised at the meeting on 07 September 2026.
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Public Questions
Recommendations ApprovedThe Cabinet Member for Finance, Cotswold Council, noted that no public questions were raised at the meeting on 07 September 2026.
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Decision
Recommendations ApprovedThe Cabinet Member for Finance decided on 07/09/2026 to approve discretionary rate relief applications from Baden Powell Hall and Palmer Hall Management. The Cabinet Member for Finance refused discretionary rate relief applications from King George V Playing Field Northleach Trust and Friends of the Cotswolds.
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Discretionary Rates Relief Decision - Northleach, Fairford North and Bourton village
Recommendations ApprovedThe Cabinet Member for Finance of Cotswold Council approved Discretionary Rate Relief applications for Baden Powell Hall and Palmer Hall Management on 07 September 2026. The decision also refused an application from King George V Playing Field Northleach Trust and Friends of the Cotswolds.
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Officer overview of the report
Recommendations ApprovedThe Cabinet Member for Finance of Cotswold Council approved recommendations on 07/09/2026. Discretionary Rate Relief was approved for Baden Powell Hall and Palmer Hall Management, and refused for King George V Playing Field Northleach Trust and Friends of the Cotswolds.
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Public Questions
Recommendations ApprovedCabinet Member for Finance Decision Meeting approved recommendations on 07/09/2026. No public questions were raised as no members of the public were present.
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S13A Kemble
Recommendations ApprovedThe Cabinet Member for Finance Decision Meeting approved recommendations for a Section 13A Council Tax discount on 07 September 2026. The decision granted a £65 discount to clear 2025/26 arrears and a 50% discount on the 2026/27 liability.
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S13A - Rissingtons
Recommendations ApprovedThe Cabinet Member for Finance Decision Meeting approved an application for a discretionary Council Tax discount on 07/09/2026. The decision was to approve a reduction of £1184.26 to clear Council Tax arrears for the 2025/26 financial year.
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Cabinet Member questions
Recommendations ApprovedCabinet Member for Finance Decision Meeting approved recommendations on 07/09/2026. The Cabinet Member confirmed Option 1 of paragraph 9.1 with the officer.
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Cabinet Member questions
Recommendations ApprovedThe Cabinet Member for Finance Decision Meeting of Cotswold Council resolved to approve recommendations on 07/09/2026. The Cabinet Member asked officers to confirm if it was open to move into private session to discuss exempt financial detail relating to two applications recommended for refusal, and officers confirmed this was possible. The meeting then entered private session to consider exempt information before returning to public session.
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Cabinet Member questions
Recommendations ApprovedCotswold Council's Cabinet Member for Finance approved recommendations on 07 September 2026. The decision confirmed a 50% reduction in the applicant's Council Tax for 2026/27, with the balance spread over the remaining instalments.
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Decision
Recommendations ApprovedThe Cabinet Member for Finance of Cotswold Council approved Option 1 on 07/09/2026. This decision granted a discretionary discount to clear 2025/26 arrears and a 50% discount on 2026/27 Council Tax liability. The remaining balance for 2026/27 will be apportioned across remaining instalments.
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Officer overview of the report
Recommendations ApprovedThe Cabinet Member for Finance Decision Meeting decided to approve recommendations on 07/09/2026. The decision approved a discretionary Council Tax discount of £1,184.26 for a resident of Upper Rissington.
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Decision
Recommendations ApprovedCabinet Member for Finance Decision Meeting approved a discretionary Council Tax discount of £1,184.26 on 07/09/2026. This decision clears Council Tax arrears for a Rissingtons Ward property for the 2025/26 financial year.
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