Council Tax 2016/2017

Transcription

1 Council Tax 2016/2017 There is a Council Tax increase of 3.95% for 2016/17, which is made up of 1.95% for services in general and a specific 2% extra allowed by the government which will go to adult social care. The West Yorkshire Fire Authority, the Police and Crime Commissioner and the parish councils approve their own annual precepts, and these are included in the overall household Council Tax bills. We have achieved 106 million savings since 2010, but we still have further savings of 67 million to make by Our approved budget plans for 2016/17 will contribute to this target, while using our reserves to help while we develop service changes, but there will still be savings which will need to be found in later years. We will continue to talk to you and consult with you as we work to become a New Council to deliver and do things differently. Our performance and achievements for 2015/2016 Significant improvement in Ofsted outcomes. 82.4% of pupils attend a good or better school which is above national averages. 92% of early education providers are rated good or outstanding. 56% of GCSE pupils achieved 5 or more A*-C grades at GCSE or equivalent including English and Maths. Significantly above the national figure of 53.8%. Community Partnership invested 331k in 46 projects, benefiting 4,800 people across Kirklees. Investment matched by additional community contributions of at least 815k. The Food for Life scheme, promoting healthy eating in schools, delivers 6 of social and economic return for every 1 spent - primarily to local businesses, as a result of the local procurement of healthy food and the promotion of small businesses and partnership working. Libraries Service successful in bid for national funding to install Wi-Fi in all libraries. Installation due for completion by March Save time, do it online at Call us on Launched online repairs ordering system, with over 1,000 people registering online. 22,666 council houses with 98.6% occupancy and with rent collected by the Council as a proportion of rents owed of 97.41% 178 volunteers support Sport & Physical Activity service delivery, equating to 3,826 volunteer hours of support to sport and physical activity programmes. 86% of older people discharged from hospital were still at home and living independently three months after their discharge following short term support from the Re-ablement Service 543 local businesses have benefited from the Super Connected Cities Voucher fund. The new Advice Service "Advice Kirklees" has gone live. All first line management is undertaken by Kirklees Citizens Advice and Legal Centre. Launched BetterOff Kirklees, the new website to help benefit claimants become work-ready by maximising benefit income and jobs search facilities. 1

2 Becoming a New Council At Kirklees Council, we are transforming the way we work and the things we do in order to become a New Council. Our vision for our New Council is one which: enables individuals and communities to do more for themselves and each other, keeps vulnerable people safe and in control of their own lives, focuses resources on things that only the council can do. Why are we doing this? We need to change in order to tackle the unprecedented financial challenge we face in a way that still enables us to develop our vision for Kirklees. We want a Kirklees which combines a strong sustainable economy with a great quality of life. Since 2010, we have reduced our spending by 106m. Up to now, we have managed to do this in a way that has had as little impact on residents as possible. Further budget reductions mean we have to make changes that will unavoidably be noticed by the people and communities of Kirklees. Changing the way we do things isn t easy we re working hard to explore new and innovative ways of working and refocusing our resources in order to maximise the impact of the budget we receive. We re continuing to make decisions about our budget based on what is valued most by local people. Get involved You can have your say on how you think the council should spend its budget by going to How much you pay in total The Council Tax for each property in Kirklees for 2016/17 for each valuation band (including adult social care, fire, police and parish precepts), is as follows: Valuation Band Denby Dale Holme Valley Kirkburton Meltham Mirfield All other parts A 1, , , , , , B 1, , , , , , C 1, , , , , , D 1, , , , , , E 1, , , , , , F 2, , , , , , G 2, , , , , , H 3, , , , , ,

3 How your Council Tax is calculated Have you seen our short video explaining your Council Tax bill? You ll find answers to common questions people have about their bills. View it at The calculation 1. Basic Council Tax charge + 2. Parish precept (if applicable) % Adult Social Care precept + 4. West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Authority charge and West Yorkshire Police Authority charges = Council Tax charge 1. Basic Council Tax charge for 2016/17 Valuation Band Holme Valley All other areas of Kirklees A B 1, , C 1, , D 1, , E 1, , F 1, , G 2, , H 2, , In 2016/2017 the Holme Valley Parish Council will provide certain services which, elsewhere, will be provided by Kirklees Council. This means that the council tax for band D properties in other areas of Kirklees will be 33p higher than for properties in the Holme Valley Parish Council area. The Council Tax bandings have been adjusted accordingly. 2. Parish precepts If you live in an area where there is a Parish Council your Council Tax will be increased to take into account the parish precepts for those areas. The amounts of the precepts for each area are as follows: Valuation Band Denby Dale Holme Valley Kirkburton Meltham Mirfield A B C D E F G H

4 Areas where there is a Parish Council The Parish Council budget is as follows: 2016/ /2016 Denby Dale Parish Council 201, ,560 Holme Valley Parish Council 124, ,198 Kirkburton Parish Council 109, ,620 Meltham Parish Council 72,500 49,500 Mirfield Parish Council 48,873 44, Adult social care contribution The Council Tax attributable to Kirklees Council includes a precept to fund adult social care. Kirklees Council have accepted the offer made by the government to increase Council Tax by an extra 2%, without the need for a referendum, on the understanding that all this extra money is used for local adult social care functions. As we are becoming an aging population the government has recognised a short fall in adult social care and agreed local authorities, such as Kirklees, with responsibility for these services can charge this increase each financial year to support adult social care functions until the end of the financial year 2019/20. The agreed Kirklees Council Tax rise for council services in 2016/17 is therefore 3.95%; which is made up of 1.95% for services in general and a specific 2% extra which will go to adult social care. Adult social care services help people who are in need of practical support due to illness, disability or old age. We support people in a wide range of circumstances. Everyone can get information and advice from us, and many people receive further support. Our aim is to help people keep their independence, either in their own home or in their local community. For information on adult social care see our web information at Adult social care contribution will be: Valuation Band Holme Valley All other areas of Kirklees A B C D E F G H

5 4. West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Authority and West Yorkshire Police Authority charges Valuation Band West Yorkshire Fire Civil Defence Authority West Yorkshire Police Authority A B C D E F G H For more information on Fire and Police, please see our partner pages at the end of this booklet. Here are some ways we may be able to help you to reduce your bill If you live alone you can claim a 25% discount If you or someone living with you fits into one of the groups below, and there are no other adults living in the property, we may be able to give you a discount:- full time students, student nurses, apprentices and youth trainees you receive child benefit for this person, who is over 18 years of age 18 and 19 year olds who are at or have just left school/college people who are severely mentally impaired people being looked after in care homes or permanently in hospital people caring for someone with a disability people serving a prison sentence Under certain circumstances we may be able to exempt your property from Council Tax This could mean you have no Council Tax to pay. Here are some of the reasons you may get an exemption:- property left unoccupied because someone has died property left unoccupied by someone who is permanently in hospital or care home the property has been repossessed the property is occupied by full-time students These are just a few of the reasons, for a full list of discounts and exemptions visit our website at: 5

6 Are you on a low income? If so you may qualify for help through the Council Tax Reduction scheme. The scheme helps households on a low income to pay their Council Tax. To qualify you must be: responsible for paying Council Tax, on a low income, and have less than 16,000 in savings unless you are over 60 and receiving the Guaranteed Credit of Pension Credit. For more information and to claim online go to Make benefits and work pay with BetterOff Kirklees In the first three months since launching we ve helped 2,775 people find extra income totalling 1.2 million. Find the benefits you re entitled to and apply for them online, appeal against a benefit decision, see handy tips to help you back into work and search for jobs at Receiving a Council Tax Reduction or discount? If there is a change in your circumstances you must tell us within 21 days or you could be fined 70. Council Tax Reduction: for example, changes in income or capital for you or other people in your household, if you move home, or if someone moves into or out of your home. Find out more or report a change online at It is the Council Tax payer s responsibility to tell Kirklees about any change which affects any other Council Tax discount: Single person discount: for example someone moves into your home. Single person discount can be cancelled at: Other Council Tax discounts: for example a student discount can be cancelled at: You can challenge your band Valuation bands are based on property values on 1 April 1991, not what a property is worth today. You can challenge a Council Tax band by contacting the Valuation Office Agency if you think your home was valued incorrectly. They will check this for you. You can also make a formal challenge to the Valuation Office Agency, but you can only do this in certain circumstances, eg if your property has changed significantly since it was valued. If the Valuation Office Agency agree your band is wrong they will put it right. THIS SERVICE IS FREE. We will then update your council tax bill for you. You can contact the Valuation Office Agency at: 17th Floor, 53 Portland Street, Manchester, M1 3LD. Telephone or visit their website Disabled band reduction If a disabled person lives in your property you may qualify for a reduction. Visit our website to find out more details. 6

7 Where your council s budget comes from 1 April March /2017 Net Expenditure 2015/2016 Net Expenditure m m Gross expenditure Income: Dedicated schools grant and other school grants Housing related grants Other government grants External income Kirklees approved budget Funded from: Government funding allocation Local share of Business Rates Unringfenced grants Collection fund balances General fund balances Council Tax requirement Where your council s money goes The amounts that the council intends to spend on the various services that it provides are shown below, together with the comparative figures for 2015/16. The figures are adjusted for capital charges. Service 2016/ /16 Gross m Net m Gross m Net m Childrens Adults, Commissioning and Public Health Place Resources Communities Transformation and Change Cross directorate activity Treasury Management, contingency and other items WY Passenger Transport Authority Other West Yorkshire Joint Services Total expenditure (excluding Precepts) Parish Council Precepts Total expenditure (including Precepts)

8 Mark Burns-Williamson OBE West Yorkshire s Police and Crime Commissioner As your Police and Crime Commissioner I want to make sure our communities are safe. This year I set a budget to recruit hundreds more Police Officers and maintain your Police and Community Support Officers (PCSOs) to protect frontline policing. That will mean a slight rise in police council tax around 4 a year, 8 pence a week, for most tax payers. I asked people across West Yorkshire about what they wanted to see to keep their communities safer. 76 per cent of people that responded told me they would support an increase of 5 or more to protect frontline policing. With this increase, along with other ongoing efficiencies and savings, we can now recruit 300 more police officers and protect PCSO numbers at 565. West Yorkshire Police received good ratings from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) in the recent comprehensive reports into protecting the public and effective use of resources. Government cuts of 140m have seen police officer numbers drop by over 2,000 and meant restrictions on open recruitment since This 3.6 per increase on council tax, still making us one of the lowest police council taxes in England and Wales, will enable us to start to rebuild and protect policing resources in West Yorkshire. Where the money comes from 2016/17 Budget 2015/16 m 2016/17 m % Gross expenditure Government Grant 65.4 Council tax requirement Precept (Police Council Tax) 18.8 Income 15.8 What the money is spent on 2016/2017 Council Tax Total cost per year Increase per annum Increase in pence per % Band week Police Officers 50.0 A Running costs 24.4 B Police Staff 20.4 C PCSOs 3.7 D Borrowing 1.1 E Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner 0.3 F G H Mark is delivering for communities across West Yorkshire by: Recruiting 300 more police officers. Protecting neighbourhood policing and the number of PCSOs. Giving over 1million of recovered Proceeds of Crime money to community groups and organisations working to keep communities safe. Improving services for victims and witnesses with dedicated hubs and the Help for Victims website Establishing the first ever Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) in West Yorkshire. Provided an additional 3.5million to tackle Child Sexual Exploitation, Cyber Crime and Human Trafficking. Having the third lowest costing office compared to the other 41 Police and Crime Commissioners with West Yorkshire Police being the fourth largest police force. For more detailed information, visit 8

9 West Yorkshire Combined Authority West Yorkshire Combined Authority is the driving force for economic growth across the Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield districts and the City of York Council area. It brings together key decision-making powers, including the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) into a single body, putting West Yorkshire and the wider Leeds City Region, including the City of York, in a much stronger position to tackle its shared economic challenges - including improving transport - by boosting jobs and growth. Successes Since being established in April 2014, West Yorkshire Combined Authority has: Secured a 1billion-plus Growth Deal to support growing businesses, develop a skilled and prosperous workforce, improve energy efficiency and create the housing and transport infrastructure for growth. Worked closely with the LEP to create an additional 3,200 jobs, unlock around 491m of private sector investment in the region and support over 4,000 businesses. Opened the new Castleford Bus Station, Apperley Bridge station and new Leeds Station Southern Entrance and is working with partners to build the new Kirkstall Forge and Low Moor stations. Approved 55m for 14 Growth Deal projects and programmes that have attracted almost 350m in private sector investment designed to create around 4,000 jobs, and up to 700 homes. Agreed half-fare bus and train travel for all 16 to 18 year-olds living in West Yorkshire Put in place a 5m Business Flood Recovery Fund to help small and medium-sized businesses across Leeds City Region recover from the effects of the Boxing Day floods. The future Over the next 12 months, West Yorkshire Combined Authority will be working with its partners to: Agree a second-stage devolution deal to build on the significant powers and funding already secured. Progress its 10-year 1bn programme of 26 transformational Transport Fund schemes designed to maximise growth and create up to 20,000 jobs. Continue the 'Better Homes Yorkshire programme, which has already seen over 1,500 households benefit from central heating systems and insulation measures. Support small and medium-sized employers to offer apprenticeships through grant of up to 2,000 per placement. carry out a full public consultation on local bus services as part of plans to develop an integrated metrostyle transport system for West Yorkshire and the City Region. complete the roll-out of MCard, the largest travel smartcard scheme of its kind outside London. Where the money comes from 2016/2017 m 2015/2016 m Income Government grants Use of reserves Net transport levy How the money will be spent in 2016/2017 m m Rail Support 0.9 Passenger services 13.1 Concessionary fares 57.0 Development & other support 9.5 Prepaid tickets 29.6 Financing & contingency 6.2 Subsidised bus & Accessbus services 19.0 Pensions 1.4 More information at or on Twitter. 9

10 West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority The average household in West Yorkshire will have to find less than 2p extra per week to pay for their fire and rescue service next year. The Government continues to cut public spending, which means West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority is set to lose a further 7.9m in government grant over the next four years - 2.7m of which must be cut in 2016/17. This, coupled with an increase in National Insurance contributions, leaves the Authority with a budget shortfall of 3.7m next year. We have identified savings of 3.6m and must therefore use 0.1m of balances to ensure our precept rise is kept to an absolute minimum of 1.99 per cent for the people of West Yorkshire. The implications of the longer term grant reductions means the fire authority must find further savings of nearly 7m by 2019/20. However, planned efficiencies coupled with the use of revenue balances over the next three years, means the Authority should be in a position to recruit wholetime firefighters again in 2018/19. The Authority continues to reform services through the implementation of its Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP) and 2016/17 will see the opening of the new Ossett Fire Station and work will commence on the new fire station to replace Shipley and Idle. Councillor Judith Hughes, Chair of West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority, said: This small increase in precept will enable the Authority to balance the budget in the current year and provide vital additional resources for future years. Despite this increase, we are still one of the lowest cost-per-headof-population fire authorities in the country, while at the same time investing in modernisation to ensure we can save money long-term and provide the public of West Yorkshire with the high level of service they deserve. Chief Fire Officer Simon Pilling said: Over the past six years, the Authority has made unprecedented changes to the way the fire and rescue service is delivered and has seen a significant reduction in staff numbers. While the Authority continues to face significant financial challenges to balance the budget over the next four years, it is encouraging that we can now start planning for future recruitment. What will the Fire and Rescue Authority cost? 2015/ /17 Per head What are the changes from last year? 2015/ / Gross expenditure 84,250 82,774 Previous year s budget 85,567 82,151 Contribution to/from Inflation ,155 balances Income -2,388-2,246 Government grants Budget requirement 82,151 80, Changes in quantity or -3,298-3,630 quality of service Revenue support -23,399-20, Difference in fees and grant charges Top up grant -15,078-15, Changes in use of reserves Business rates -7,870-7, Budget requirement 82,151 80,425 Collection fund Council tax requirement 35,438 36, For FREE fire safety advice visit: 10