Agenda item

The Council considered a report from Cabinet which detailed the information to calculate and set the Council tax for the Council’s area for 2014/15 (for report see file of Minutes).

Moved by Councillor Henig, Seconded by Councillor Napier that the report of the Cabinet and its recommendations be adopted, and with it the setting of the Council Tax.

For the Motion

Councillors E Adam, J Allen, J Alvey, B Armstrong, J Armstrong, L Armstrong, A Batey, E Bell, J Bell, R Bell, H Bennett, J Blakey, G Bleasdale, D Boyes, P Brookes, J Brown, C Carr, P Charlton, J Clare, J Clark, P Conway, K Corrigan, P Crathorne, R Crute, K Davidson, M Davinson, M Dixon, S Forster, N Foster, I Geldard, B Glass, B Graham, J Gray, O Gunn, S Guy, D Hall, J Hart, K Henig, S Henig, D Hicks, J Hillary, M Hodgson, K Hopper, L Hovvels, E Huntington, S Iveson, O Johnson, C Kay, A Laing, P Lawton, J Lethbridge, H Liddle, R Lumsdon, J Maitland, C Marshall, L Marshall, P May, O Milburn, B Moir, A Napier, M Nicholls, H Nicholson, A Patterson, T Pemberton, M Plews, C Potts, L Pounder, G Richardson, J Robinson, A Savory, K Shaw, J Shuttleworth, T Smith, B Stephens, P Stradling, A Surtees, P Taylor, L Taylor, R Todd, E Tomlinson, J Turnbull, A Turner, R Yorke, R Young, Mac Williams, C Wilson and S Wilson

Against the Motion

Councillors D Freeman, G Holland, A Hopgood, N Martin, R Ormerod, A Shield, M Simmons, O Temple and A Willis.

Abstentions

None

Resolved:

That the following be adopted:

(a)      It be noted that on 18 December 2013 the Cabinet calculated the Council Tax Base 2014/15;

                                      i)         for the whole Council area as 129,047.4 band D equivalent properties [Item T in the formula in Section 31B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the “Act”)]; and

                                    ii)         for dwellings in those parts of its area to which a Parish precept relates as in the attached Appendix 3.

(b)            the Council Tax Requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2014/15 (excluding Parish precepts and the Charter Trustees for the City of Durham) is £168,844,328

(c)            the following amounts be calculated for 2014/15 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Act:

                                      i)         being the aggregate of the gross expenditure which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2) of the Act taking into account all precepts issued to it by Parish Councils: £1,150,303,568.

                                    ii)         being the aggregate of the gross income which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3) of the Act:  £971008,868.

                                   iii)         being the amount by which the aggregate at (c) i) above exceeds the aggregate at (c) ii) above, calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act as its Council Tax requirement for the year. (Item R in the formula in Section 31B of the Act):  £179,294,700.

                                  iv)         being the amount at (c) iii) above (Item R), all divided by Item T ((a) i) above), calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31B of the Act as the basic amount of its Council Tax at Band D for the year (including Parish precepts:  £1,389.37.

                                    v)         being the aggregate amount of all special items referred to in Section 34 (1) of the Act: (total of all Parish precepts including Charter Trustees):  £10,450,372.

                                  vi)         being the amount at (c) iv) above less the result given by dividing the amount at (c) v) above by Item T ((a) i) above), calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 34(2) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax at Band D for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which no Parish precept relates:  £1,308.39.

(d)            it be noted that for 2014/15 County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Authority has recommended the following amounts will be in the precept issued to the County Council, in accordance with Section 40 of the Act, as shown in the table below:

COUNTY DURHAM AND DARLINGTON FIRE AND RESCUE AUTHORITY

(e)            It be noted that for 2014/15 Durham Police and Crime Commissioner has recommended that the following amounts will be in the precept issued to the County Council, in accordance with Section 40 of the Act, as shown in the table below:

DURHAM POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER

(f)              the Council, in accordance with Sections 30 and 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, hereby sets the aggregate amounts shown in the tables below as the amounts of Council Tax for 2014/15 for each part of its area and for each of the categories of dwellings.

DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL

AGGREGATE OF COUNCIL TAX REQUIREMENTS

(excluding Parish, Town Council and Charter Trustees)

(g)            the Council’s basic amount of Council Tax for 2013/14 is not excessive in accordance with principles approved under Section 522B Local Government Finance Act 1992 (as amended) and that the increase in Council Tax is not excessive in accordance with the principles approved under Section 52ZC Local Government Finance Act 1992 (as amended).

(h)          As the billing authority, the Council has not been notified by County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Authority and Durham Police and Crime Commissioner, as major precepting authorities, that their relevant basic amount of Council Tax for 2014/15 is excessive and that the billing authority is not required to hold a referendum in accordance with Section 52ZK Local Government Finance Act 1992 (as amended).

(i)            the County Council, in accordance with Section 11A (4) of the Act sets a 0% discount for Second and Empty Furnished Homes.

(j)              the County Council, in accordance with Section 11A (4A) of the Act sets a 0% discount for dwellings defined in Classes C or D.

(k)            the County Council, in accordance with Section 11B (1b) of the Act sets a 150% premium for Long Term Empty Homes for 2014/15.

(l)              the Chief Executive be instructed to publish a notice in accordance with Section 38 (2) of the Act, relating to the amounts of council tax set.

(m)          the Chief Executive be instructed to publish a notice in accordance with Section 11A (6) and 11B (6) of the Act, relating to the discount set.