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A little more SBRR Detail …

Hello Longcrofters,

We hope you and your families are safe and well.

Thank you for keeping in touch with us about progress in getting the VOA to value your businesses in order to get SBRR.

Needless to say we have been very busy beavering away in the background on your behalf and looking into options to ensure that everyone gets the grant.

We have been in touch with MPs, local councils, rates specialists, solicitors and It looks like the VOA have accountability to provide the local councils with the rateable value for each of your hotels. 

With this in mind there is a tool to submit a complaint which we believe is worthwhile completing;

https://www.resolver.co.uk/freeadvice/companies/valuation-office-agency-complaints/services

Select ….

  1. Non Domestic Rates
  2. The service has made a mistake
  3. Start your case now

It appears the VOA is up and running again and can be contacted by telephone on 03000 502 502.

We have reviewed the document that local authorities have been given to work with on issuing the grants and there appears to be discretion on their behalf where it is believed that the business is eligible for the grant. Below are the relevant points …. 

‘Grant Funding Schemes – Technical Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for Local Authorities

Small Business Grant Fund and Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund Guidance’

If a business has challenged or appealed its rateable value and the challenge/appeal is outstanding at 11 March 2020, how will this be treated?

  1. However, in cases where it was factually clear to the Local Authority on 11 March 2020 that the rating list was inaccurate on that date, Local Authorities may withhold or award the grant based on eligibility had the list been accurate. This discretion is only intended to prevent clear errors. Any decisions made after 11 March should not affect eligibility.

Can further examples be provided with unusual circumstances. How much discretion do Local Authorities have?
We are working with 20 Local Authorities as part of advisory group for the scheme and can discuss unusual examples with them. Please let us know through your regional Single Point of Contact if you wish to discuss an example with us.
The guidance offers two different forms of Local Authority discretion:

  1. 1)  Taking reasonable steps to correct the information they held on the ratepayer on 11 March 2020 where the Local Authority has reason to believe it was inaccurate (para 33 of the guidance);
  2. 2)  In cases where it was factually clear to the Local Authority on 11 March 2020 that the rating list was inaccurate on that date. This is intended only to prevent manifest errors (para 40).

Do let us know how you get on.

Sending purrs!

Abi x