Agenda item

To enable Members, following a recorded vote, to formally resolve the Borough’s Council Tax for 2014/15.

The Council considered a joint report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and the Board Director, Resources concerning the amount of Council Tax for each Valuation Band for dwellings in each part of the Borough for 2014/15, and related matters including legal advice.

Councillor Russell Holland moved and Councillor David Renard seconded and the Council agreed:

          “(1) That it be recorded that the advice of the Director of Law and Democratic Services’ has been taken into account when setting the level of Council Tax for 2014/15.

          (2) That it be noted that the Council’s revenue budget is £142,667,544 as recommended by the Cabinet to this Council on 5^th February 2014.

          (3) That it be noted that in accordance with Section 31B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (as amended) the Council’s Tax Base for 2014/15 is 66,245.5 in total with the breakdown by Parish set out in Appendix 3 to the report.

          (4) That the following amounts be calculated by the Council in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended by the Localism Act 2011:-

(a)      Borough / Parish Gross Expenditure £444,563,803 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2) of the 1992 Act taking into account all precepts issued to it by Parish Councils.

(b)      Borough Gross Income plus Collection Fund Balance£368,590,639 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3) of the Act.

(c)      Borough/Parish Net Expenditure £75,973,164 being the amount by which the aggregate at 4(a) above exceeds the aggregate at 4(b) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act, as its Council Tax requirement for the year.

(d)      Basic Amount of Tax (including Average Parish Precepts)£1,174.71 being the amount at 4(c) above, less the amount at 4(d) above, all divided by the amount at 3 above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31B of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year. In accordance with Schedule 5 of the Localism Act 2011, this sum is not considered to be excessive.

(e)      Special Items £2,901,237 being the aggregate of Special Expenses and Parish Precepts and collectively known as special items and referred to in Section 34(1) of the Act.

(f)       Basic Amount of Tax (Unparished Area) £1,130.92 being the amount at 4(d) above less the result given by dividing the amount at 4(e) above by the amount at 3, calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 34(2) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which no special item relates.

(g)      Basic Amount of Tax (Special and Parished Areas) the amounts shown in Appendix 2 of the report, being the amounts given by adding to the amount at 4(f) above, the amounts of the special items relating to dwellings in the appropriate part of the Council's area - divided by the appropriate amount at 3 above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 34(3) of the Act, as the basic amounts of its Council Tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which a special item relates.

(h)      Borough/Parish Council Tax Rates the amounts shown in Appendix 1 of the report, being the amounts given by multiplying the amounts at 4(g) by the number which, in the proportion set out in Section 5(1) of the Act, is applicable to dwellings listed in a particular valuation band, divided by the number which in that proportion is applicable to dwellings listed in a particular valuation band, divided by valuation D, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 36(1) of the Act, as the amounts to be taken into account for the year in respect of categories of dwellings listed in different valuation bands.

(5)  Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon  That it be noted that for the year   2014/2015 the Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon has stated the following amounts in precept issued to the Council, in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, for each of the categories of dwellings shown below:

(6)  Swindon and Wiltshire Fire Authority That it be noted that for the year 2014/2015 the Swindon and Wiltshire Joint Fire Authority has stated the following amounts in precept issued to the Council, in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, for each of the categories of dwellings shown below:

          (7) That this Council note that there will be no increase in the Council Tax levels for the Borough element of the 2014/15 Council tax bills in accordance with the budget proposed by Cabinet on 5^th February 2014.

(8) That this Council determines that the Basic Amount of Council Tax for the Financial Year, 2014/15 is not excessive within the statutory definitions set out within Part 1 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (as amended by the Localism Act 2011) and that therefore no referendum is required.

          The Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

In line with The Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 the vote on this amendment was recorded:

Councillors voting for the Motion were: Councillors Junab Ali, Abdul Amin, Steve Allsopp, Paul Baker, John Ballman, Ray Ballman, Mike Bawden, Andrew Bennett, Alan Bishop, Roderick Bluh, Mick Bray, Wayne Crabbe, Mark Dempsey, Michael Dickinson, Oliver Donachie, Mark Edwards, Toby Elliot, Claire Ellis, Emma Faramarzi, Fionuala Foley, Mary Friend, Brian Ford, Jim Grant, John Haines, Neil Heavens, Councillors Peter Heaton-Jones, Dale Heenan, Russell Holland, Fay Howard, Richard Hurley, Colin Lovell, Nick Martin, Cindy Matthews, Brian Mattock, Des Moffatt, Derique Montaut, Teresa Page, Stan Pajak, Maureen Penny, Garry Perkins, Julian Price, David Renard, Anne Richards, James Robbins, Kevin Small, Vera Tomlinson, Joe Tray, Nadine Watts, Peter Watts, Steve Weisinger and Keith Williams Bob Wright and Julie Wright.

There were no Councillors voting against the Motion or abstaining.