Memorandum by Richmondshire District Council
(SBR 36)
Richmondshire District has one of the smallest
populations of any local authority, but covers one of the largest
geographical areas. At 509 square miles it is actually larger
than four English Counties, but within its boundary live only
50,700 people (2004 mid year estimate). Richmondshire is therefore
one of the most sparsely populated District Councils in the country,
its boundaries stretching from the Vale of York in the east to
Cumbria in the west.
Predominantly rural in character, a large part
is situated in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. It encompasses
some of England's most unspoilt and beautiful countryside and
includes much of the renowned Yorkshire Dales, with some of the
finest scenery to be found in the District's main dales of Wensleydale
and Swaledale, which are perhaps the best known of the 26 Dales
in the District.
There are two main arterial roads, the A1 North/South
and the A66 East/West five miles from Richmond, giving easy access
to many parts of the country. The eastern part of Richmondshire
lies within the Vale of Mowbray and is similar in character to
the adjoining area of Hambleton. Richmond is the largest town
in the District and Catterick Garrison are the main centres and
serve a wide hinterland. Catterick Garrison is home to the largest
British army garrison in the world and it is estimated that the
total military related population is 17,500 people. The role of
the latter is set to increase in importance, with the proposed
growth of the Army garrison likely to support a widening of its
services. Both of these centres have strong social and economic
links with the Tees Valley and somewhat weaker links with the
regional and sub-regional centres in the south.
The remainder of the District is made up of
the upland areas of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The landscapes
and settlements here are of national and international importance
and the area has a strong environmental, cultural and heritage
base which underpins its vital tourism sector.
Overall Richmondshire is seen as a relatively
prosperous area with higher than average educational achievement
and relatively low unemployment levels of 1.2%. However, whilst
unemployment across the district is low, there are areas of the
District where high unemployment remains a concern. Richmondshire's
economy is still largely reliant upon low paid, seasonal farming
and tourism employment and average wage levels are below the national
and regional averages. In contrast to the army garrison at Catterick,
the majority of businesses spread throughout the District are
small and medium sized enterprises that employ less than 250 people.
In addition, there are identified pockets of
considerable disadvantage with parts of Richmondshire falling
into the country's worst 30% of wards for income and employment,
education and child poverty, whilst the nature of the District,
its size and, in some areas, sparsity of population present challenges
to providing quality services with many communities among the
10% most deprived for access to services.
GENERAL INFORMATION
REGARDING LOCAL
TAXATION
— Richmondshire DC is the billing authority
for both Council Tax and National Non-Domestic Rates within it's
area.
— Richmondshire currently has 21,500
Banded Council Tax Properties and 2,300 Business Rated Properties.
— Of those 2,300 Business Rated Properties
a great majority are small businesses that are family run.
— The only major conurbation of Business
Properties is centred in and around the market town of Richmond.
The remaining businesses are sparsely spread throughout the District.
— Approximately 500 properties currently
enjoy Small Business Rate Relief.
THE RATIONALE
FOR INTRODUCTION
OF A
SUPPLEMENTARY BUSINESS
RATE
— To give back an element of Local
Accountability by Councils to Businesses.
— To be able to make businesses themselves
more accountable to the welfare of a local area.
— To enable projects of a local nature
to be introduced thus improving that area for both businesses
and members of the public.
APPROVAL MECHANISMS
— Will this act in the same way as
a BID ie will ratepayers be required to vote in favour of any
supplementary charge.
— Will the supplementary charge effect
all of the Business ratepayers or will it be kept to an immediate
area that will benefit the most from any charge of this nature.
— The need to liaise with and take
input from local Business forums, Parish and Town Councils. Also
other agencies such as Yorkshire Dales National Park.
CONSIDERATION/IMPLEMENTATION
ISSUES
— Decisions should be taken at the
lowest tier of a two-tier authority and any monies received should
be retained at that level. Monies should then be paid, for instance,
to the County Council for any specific projects that have a direct
impact on services administered by the first tier authority.
— The additional cost and time in setting
up and administering a Supplementary Rate. In small Councils will
this cost outweigh the additional money collected?
— Will the billing and collection of
the Supplementary Charge fall within the current regulations or
will it be collected outside of the normal National Non-Domestic
Rate? If collected outside, who will administer it and how?
— The impact on Budgets in respect
of Discretionary Rate Relief if the Supplementary Charge was to
be added to all Business Properties!
— Would empty premises be liable for
the charge? If yes would they pay the full rate or a proportion
thereof?
— Would MOD properties be involved?
(Major impact in Richmondshire as £3.9 million of a total
rateable value of £25.6 million is MOD related).
— Will empty, exempt properties pay?
— Would it be a one-off annual charge
or would it span more than one year.
APPROPRIATE SCALE
OF SUPPLEMENT
— Limit of supplement could be set
in accordance with Council Tax capping levels.
— Could be in accordance with the inflationary
increase in the level of the Non-Domestic Rate Multiplier.
— If based on rateable value will the
supplement increase/decrease as Rateable Value changes or will
the charge be set as at 1 April as a static amount?
THRESHOLDS/SMALL
BUSINESSES
— Provided the supplement is to be
retained at a local level all Businesses should be required to
pay (as previously mentioned consideration must be given to those
Business Properties that are non-profit making and enjoy an element
of either/or Mandatory/Discretionary Rate Relief).
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