[cma-l] business rates on transmitters

[Phil Korbel]

Not 100% on this Julian but as a charity then non-profit relief would be
much more certain... not that difficult to do and if you have a trading 
arm as well it need not restrict your non-charitable activities.  Not 
that much work either - look on the Charities Commission website - find 
a C/R station that's a charity and adapt their Mem & Arts to suit...

Otherwise buddy up to a councillor to have a word and if that fails go 
to the papers...

best of luck

Phil Korbel

Original Message:
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From: julian mellor julian at 2md.co.uk
Date: Thu, 18 Sep 2008 09:50:35 +0100
To: cma-l at commedia.org.uk
Subject: [cma-l] business rates on transmitters


I had a shock the other night to find that the
local council had set a business rate for our
transmitter site.

The transmitter is literally no more than a
telegraph pole + kit in the corner of someone's
field, for which we pay no rent.  But the Council
(or District Valuer) have assessed it as having a
rateable value of £2200 which at 46p in the £
makes rates payable of c.£1000 a year.

We're hoping, as a not for profit, to get
discretionary relief on this, but the principle
nevertheless came a shot out the blue.

I presume that the Council/DV have assessed the
value of the site on the same basis as a
commercial mast / mobile phone mast.

What experience do others have of this?  And has
anyone appealed against the valuation?

Julian