Issue - meetings

REPORT OF THE SERVICE DIRECTOR – CUSTOMERS

To set the Council Tax Base for 2020/2021 in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 1992 and the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (England) Regulations 2012 (the Regulations).

RESOLVED:

(1)       That a non-collection rate of 1% be set for 2020/2021;

(2)       That the Council Tax Base for 2020/2021 be set at 49,979.6 and that the individual sums shown in Appendix A for each Parish be agreed.

REASON FOR DECISIONS: To fulfil the statutory requirement to set a Council Tax Base for the District and to enable Major and Local Precepting Authorities to set their levels of Council Tax for 2020/2021.

Audio recording – 1 minute 41 seconds

The Service Director – Customers presented the report entitled Council Tax Base 2020/2021 together with the following appendices:

·                Appendix A – Council Tax Base by Parish 2020/2021;

·                Appendix B – Example of Council Tax Base calculation for Letchworth Garden City.

He drew attention to the following:

·                It was a requirement for this Committee to set the Council Tax Base;

·                This was calculated using a specific formula that took into account the number of properties in the District, the bands and the Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS);

·                The Council Tax Base was used for the calculation of Council Tax;

·                Parish Councils and Police were informed of this figure and they used it to calculate their Council Tax figures;

·                Appendix B gave an example calculation.

The following Members asked questions and took part in the debate:

·                Councillor David Levett;

·                Councillor Sam North;

·                Councillor Claire Strong.

In response to questions the Service Director – Customers advised:

·                The calculations used were set in statute;

·                Valuation of properties had to be undertaken by the Valuation Office;

·                Valuations were set as at 1 April 1991.

RESOLVED:

(1)       That a non-collection rate of 1% be set for 2020/2021;

(2)       That the Council Tax Base for 2020/2021 be set at 49,979.6 and that the individual sums shown in Appendix A for each Parish be agreed.

REASON FOR DECISIONS: To fulfil the statutory requirement to set a Council Tax Base for the District and to enable Major and Local Precepting Authorities to set their levels of Council Tax for 2020/2021.