Issue - meetings

Council requests Cabinet to consider approving the Councils for Fair Tax declaration. 

 This commits Councils to

• Lead by example and demonstrate good practice in our tax conduct, right across our activities.
• Ensure IR35 is implemented robustly and contract workers pay a fair share of employment taxes.
• Not use offshore vehicles for the purchase of land and property, especially where this leads to reduced payments of stamp duty. 
• Undertake due diligence to ensure that not-for-profit structures are not being used inappropriately by suppliers as an artificial device to reduce the payment of tax and business rates.  
• Demand clarity on the ultimate beneficial ownership of suppliers, UK and overseas, and their consolidated profit & loss position, given lack of clarity could be strong indicators of poor financial probity and weak financial standing.
• Promote Fair Tax Mark certification especially for any business in which we have a significant stake and where corporation tax is due.
• Support Fair Tax Week events in the area, and celebrate the tax contribution made by responsible businesses that are proud to promote responsible tax conduct and pay their fair share of corporation tax.

Council also requests the Leader of the Council to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer supporting calls for urgent reform of UK procurement law to enable local authorities to better penalise poor tax conduct and reward good tax conduct through their procurement policies.

Note: The motion, if passed, would constitute the exercise of an executive function in which case it will be referred to the Cabinet together with any advice the Council may wish to give, in accordance with Rule 13.5.1 (i) of the Council Procedure Rules in the Constitution. 

The time being close to 3.30 pm, this Motion was considered dropped in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 5.2.