FOI request (FOIR-473136214)

Business rates

Requested Wed 21 December 2022
Responded Mon 09 January 2023

I am writing to you under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to request the following information.

Please can you provide the following:

1. The average annual business rates costs, or current liability payable, for the calendar years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.

2. What is the total value of business rate relief granted by the local authority in the last 12 months?

3. Of the total number of businesses who applied for business rate relief, how many were successful?

Response

2018/19:

Total net charge levied - £23,492,461.66

Total bills issued - 3,527

Average - £6,660.75

2019/20:

Total net charge levied - £23,411,290.79

Total bills issued - 3,565

Average - £6,566.98

2020/21:

Total net charge levied - £23,241,600.73

Total bills issued - 3,567

Average - £6,515.73

2021/22:

Total net charge levied - £11,455,552.08

Total bills issued - 3,613

Average - £3,170.65

2022/23:

Total net charge levied - £21,226,813.80

Total bills issued - 3,636

Average - £5,837.96

Relief granted in 2022/23:

Small business rate relief - £3,977,354.03

Charity relief - £3,365,432,37

Supporting Small Businesses - £17,869.04

Exemptions - £386,667.75

Retail discount - £12,918,247.03

Hastings Borough Council does not keep a separate note of how many applications for relief are approved or denied.