An Urgent Message from Theatre Bristol

Hello everyone,

We have just received an email from Bristol City Council to say that the deadline for completing their survey on the impact of discretionary rate relief has now been extended by one week until 22nd June.

Here's a bit from the BCC website:

Charity relief and discretionary relief

Bristol City Council is in the process of reviewing its Discretionary Rate Relief Policy.  This is the relief you currently receive on Business Rates. If there is a change in policy, it is proposed the change will be implemented from April 2013. The decision on whether or not to change the policy will be made by the Council’s Cabinet in the Autumn 2012. In order to review the policy we wish to understand the potential economic, social, equalities and cultural impacts on the city.

A letter providing further explanation can be found here 

Download Survey Covering Letter

The survey will have been sent to organisations likely to be affected by the end of rate relief, (to the person who originally applied). If that person did not receive the letter or no longer works with your organisation you can find the survey here

Download Rate Relief Survey

Even if you are not directly affected by the proposed changed you can write to your local councillor and to Simon Cook, the Bristol Rate Relief website has a letter template. Please check the website before you complete the survey as it will have information to help you. It would also be helpful if you could send a copy of your survey and/or letter to them so they have a record of responses and can conduct their own impact report

Please act this week.