Freedom of information requests for business rates

What information about business rates is available under a Freedom of Information request?

East Riding of Yorkshire Council receives numerous requests for information which relates to the rating of premises used for business purposes. The council is now publishing the business rates information shown below to save the need for separate enquiries.

In accordance with provisions of the Data Protection Act 2018, information pertaining to individuals and any aspect of their liability to business rates has been redacted from the published information. The council does not publish reference numbers for any unique business rates accounts as these are used for verification purposes in communications with ratepayers about their accounts. The information is published in Microsoft Excel format and the date of publication is indicated within the respective file.

What information is available about business premises?

A full list of all commercial properties in the East Riding which includes:

• The property reference number
  
• Property Address
  
• Property Description
  
• 2010 Rateable Value
  
• Current Rateable Value
  
• For the current primary liable party (where the primary liable party is a corporate body):
  
  • Primary liable party name
  • Last known contact address
  • Liability Start Date
  • Any current exemption
  • Any business rate relief award.

Business Rates Freedom of Information Data

What information is available about overpaid accounts?

In accordance with the findings of the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) in their Decision Notices FS50619844 and FS50643256, East Riding of Yorkshire Council will no longer publish information in respect of credit balances or amounts ‘written on’ to Business Rates accounts.

In these decisions, the ICO has determined that such information is exempt from publication under Section 31(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 on the grounds that disclosure could result in fraudulent refund claims.

The manner in which the Council administers business rates has been audited and found to be in accordance with legislation governing the administration and collection of Non-Domestic Rates. This includes proactive measures taken to notify ratepayers of overpayments and issue refunds to verified ratepayers.

What information about Covid grants is available under a Freedom of Information request?  

East Riding of Yorkshire Council has received numerous requests for information which relates to Covid grants. To make it easier for people to access the information which could be released under the freedom of information, the council is now publishing certain Covid grant information (see below) to save the need for separate enquiries.  

Not all the information which the Council holds in relation to Covid grants is currently accessible under the Freedom of Information Act. Many local authorities have been subject to fraudulent applications from those seeking to take advantage of the Covid Business Grant Scheme. Because of this certain information is exempt from disclosure under S.31(1)(a) (law enforcement) as its release would, or would be likely to, prejudice the prevention or detection of crime. It is not considered in most cases to be in the public interest to release information into the public domain which would facilitate criminal activities in this way.  

If the information you are looking for is not included in the below, it is not currently available for release under the Freedom of Information Act. Anyone who requests information relating to Covid grants will be directed back to this webpage to access the information which is currently available.   

This webpage will be updated once the above exemption is no longer considered to apply. However other exemptions may at this point come into force preventing certain information from being released, for example those relating to personal data.  

Omicron Hospitality & Leisure Grant (OHLG) / Omicron Additional Restrictions Grant (OARG)

Small Business & Retail Hospitality & Leisure Grants

In total 420 invalid or ineligible applications were received for these grants and were not awarded a grant payment.

Please Note: All of these schemes above have now closed. And will not be updated further, as no more payments under these schemes will be made.

A number of political parties and parish councils were eligible for one of these grants, under the Guidance issued by The Government Parish Councils were eligible to receive the Small Business Grant if they met the criteria:

Local Restrictions Grants 

Please Note: All of these schemes above have now closed. And will not be updated further, as no more payments under these schemes will be made.

What information about Yorkshire Coast Bids is available under a Freedom of Information request?

East Riding of Yorkshire Council has received numerous requests for information which relates to Covid grants. To make it easier for people to access the information which could be released under the freedom of information, the council is now publishing certain Yorkshire Coast Bid (see below) to save the need for separate enquiries.  

How much money has been collected on behalf of Yorkshire coast BID in the following years?