Rother District Council receives a high volume of Freedom of Information (FOI) requests for details relating to Business Rate accounts (non-domestic properties).
To improve openness and transparency, and to make this information easier to access, we now publish specific reports covering the most frequently requested data. These reports are updated quarterly.
Please note:
- We may not provide individual responses to requests for similar information during the year.
- Any such requests may be declined.
Credit Balances
Rother District Council does not publish information about Business Rates accounts with credit balances in response to FOI requests.
This information is exempt under Section 31(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (prevention or detection of crime). While we hold this data, disclosure could lead to fraudulent refund claims being made against the Council.
This position follows decisions by the Information Commissioner regarding similar requests to Wandsworth Council and Tendring District Council. These decisions can be viewed here:
Applying Section 31 requires a public interest test. While transparency in Council operations is important, the risk of fraud and the associated cost to the public purse outweigh the benefits of disclosure.
Please note: Credit notices have been issued to all ratepayers where credits exist on their accounts.
Empty Properties
Details of empty properties are also withheld under Section 31(1)(a). Large-scale disclosure of empty property data could be exploited for fraudulent or criminal purposes. In this case, the public interest lies in preventing such risks.
What Information is Available?
The following information is available in the Business Rates All Accounts spreadsheet:
- Account name
- Account start date
- Rateable Value
- Current Charge
- VOA Property Description
- Reliefs
- Rating description
- Property address
- UPRN
The data is accurate as of the date the report is produced.
We cannot provide details of individuals, as this constitutes personal data under the Data Protection Act 2018 and is exempt under Section 40(2)(a)(i) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Personal information relating to sole traders has been redacted.
