Newport City Council will provide more targeted support to local charities after changes to its discretionary rate relief scheme were agreed.
Councillor Jane Mudd, leader of the council, announced the changes at Tuesday’s council meeting, alongside a package of discretionary rate relief for city centre businesses.
The changes allow the council to consider giving a rate relief ‘top-up’ to small, locally based charities and organisations that fall into the following categories:
- the charity occupies a property that is entitled to small business rate relief
- the charity is providing facilities for children or young people in the city
- the charity provides a service that directly benefits Newport residents
The top up rate will not be applicable to:
- premises used as charity shops
- empty properties
- properties occupied by national charities (unless providing facilities for children and young people, or a service that directly benefits residents)
- excessively large properties
It is estimated that around 60 properties will benefit from the changes, which will cost the council around £10k.
Commenting on the changes, Councillor Mudd said: “Many of the charities who will benefit from this support are ones that have a positive impact on our young people and their families such as Guides, Scouts and youth clubs.
“I’m delighted that council agreed to our plans to offer this financial support, so that the contributions to our community of these groups can be recognised, and so they can continue to provide their services which support our own work improving people’s lives across the city.”
