2013/14
Information about your council tax A guide to
A guide to council tax across Lichfield District
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3/1 4 council tax acro Lichfield Di ss strict
Lichfield Distr Good valu ict Council e local serv ices
TURN TO PAGES 2-8 FOR MORE INFORMATION 2
Lichfield Distri ct Council delivers a wide range of local servic es in your area for aroun d ÂŁ2.87 a week*. We hope you think they are value. Find out more inform good about how ation much you will pay, how we spend the money we get, and council tax discounts and exemption s in our page s. *Based on an average
Band D propert y
Keeping you safe, spending your money wisely TURN TO PAGES 9-12 FOR MORE INFORMATION 9
Giving you more for your council tax
Giiv viin ng g yo ou more r for your co uncil tax
TURN TO PAGES 13-16 FOR MORE INFORMATION 13
For more information about Staffordshire Fire and Rescue, please visit www.staffordshirefire.gov.uk
2013/14
A guide to council tax across Lichfield District
Lichfield District Council Good value local services Lichfield District Council delivers a wide range of local services in your area for around ÂŁ2.87 a week*. We hope you think they are good value. Find out more information about how much you will pay, how we spend the money we get, and council tax discounts and exemptions in our pages. *Based on an average Band D property
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Value for money We spend 10% of the money you pay each month in your council tax bill. An average house* in the district pays the district council £2.87 a week or £149.01 a year towards district council services. We are a low charging district council and, based on a Band D property, on average we charge £20 less a year than other shire districts. To make sure we can continue to deliver good local services, we have increased our part of the bill by 1.8% this year. This will mean you will pay on average £2.64 more this year.
Did you know? Lichfield District Council only keeps 10% of the money you pay – we pass the rest to the county council, fire and police services and parish councils.
*Based on an average Band D property
Facing the future
Where does my money go?
It’s been another challenging financial year for us and we are facing large cuts in government funding. Our savings programme has meant we are in a good position to meet the cuts, but without doubt we are going to have to change the way we deliver some of our services in the future.
We only keep around 10p of every pound we receive in council tax. We distribute the rest to Staffordshire County Council, the fire and police services, and parish, town and city councils.
We don’t want to do this without getting local people’s views on what’s important. If you want to give us your ideas on how we should cut our costs, please visit www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/voiceit and sign up for email alerts on our consultations.
70p goes to Staffordshire County Council 3p goes to the average parish council 12p goes to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner Staffordshire
One way we may save costs next year is by publishing the information within our pages online, rather than sending you a leaflet.
To find out more about council tax, exemptions and discounts, and the ways you can pay, please visit: www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/counciltax
10p goes to LichfieldDistrict Council 5p goes to Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service
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How much will I have to pay?
Use the table below to find out how much your council tax charge will be this year. The amount you pay depends on where you live (your parish area) and the value of your home (your valuation band). The figures do not include any discounts you may receive.
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Your house is placed in one of eight council tax bands (A to H), using the valuation carried out by the District Valuer in 1991. The amount of council tax you pay will depend on the value of your property. Band D (highlighted below) is used to calculate the council tax for each property and to compare ourselves to others. The bands are worked out as a proportion of the Band D amount.
Proportion of Band D
Band A (6/9)
Band B (7/9)
Band C (8/9)
Band D (1)
Band E (11/9)
Band F (13/9)
Band G (15/9)
Band H (2)
Alrewas
965.01
1125.85
1286.68
1447.52
1769.19
2090.87
2412.53
2895.04
Armitage with Handsacre
973.82
1136.12
1298.42
1460.73
1785.34
2109.95
2434.55
2921.46
Burntwood
966.60
1127.70
1288.80
1449.90
1772.10
2094.31
2416.50
2899.80
Clifton Campville with Thorpe Constantine
975.56
1138.16
1300.75
1463.35
1788.54
2113.74
2438.91
2926.70
Colton
973.62
1135.89
1298.16
1460.43
1784.97
2109.52
2434.05
2920.86
Curborough & Elmhurst and Farewell & Chorley
954.40
1113.47
1272.53
1431.60
1749.73
2067.87
2386.00
2863.20
Drayton Bassett
979.04
1142.22
1305.39
1468.57
1794.92
2121.28
2447.61
2937.14
Edingale
974.29
1136.68
1299.05
1461.44
1786.20
2110.98
2435.73
2922.88
Elford
973.82
1136.12
1298.42
1460.73
1785.34
2109.95
2434.55
2921.46
Fazeley
972.68
1134.79
1296.90
1459.02
1783.25
2107.48
2431.70
2918.04
Fradley & Streethay
972.44
1134.52
1296.59
1458.67
1782.82
2106.98
2431.11
2917.34
Hammerwich
957.28
1116.84
1276.38
1435.93
1755.02
2074.13
2393.21
2871.86
Hamstall Ridware
963.30
1123.86
1284.40
1444.96
1766.06
2087.17
2408.26
2889.92
Harlaston
967.68
1128.96
1290.24
1451.52
1774.08
2096.65
2419.20
2903.04
Hints & Canwell
972.44
1134.51
1296.58
1458.66
1782.81
2106.96
2431.10
2917.32
Kings Bromley
961.58
1121.85
1282.11
1442.38
1762.91
2083.45
2403.96
2884.76
Lichfield
982.76
1146.56
1310.35
1474.15
1801.74
2129.34
2456.91
2948.30
Longdon
960.74
1120.86
1280.98
1441.11
1761.36
2081.61
2401.85
2882.22
Mavesyn Ridware
969.10
1130.62
1292.13
1453.65
1776.68
2099.72
2422.75
2907.30
Shenstone
971.10
1132.96
1294.80
1456.66
1780.36
2104.07
2427.76
2913.32
Swinfen & Packington
967.72
1129.01
1290.29
1451.58
1774.15
2096.73
2419.30
2903.16
Wall
965.86
1126.84
1287.81
1448.79
1770.74
2092.70
2414.65
2897.58
Weeford
957.31
1116.87
1276.41
1435.97
1755.07
2074.19
2393.28
2871.94
Whittington & Fisherwick
972.86
1135.01
1297.15
1459.30
1783.59
2107.89
2432.16
2918.60
Wigginton & Hopwas
973.98
1136.32
1298.64
1460.98
1785.64
2110.31
2434.96
2921.96
Frequently asked questions
Does council tax fund all our services?
What if I live alone - do I get a discount?
No. Council tax funds only 9% of the services we deliver. The rest is made up by income, government grants, interest on investments and revenue reserves.
Yes. If you are the only adult living in your home, you may be entitled to a 25% single person’s discount. Visit www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/counciltax to download a single person’s discount application form or call 01543 308900.
When do I have to pay my council tax? You can pay by 10 or 12 monthly or 2 half yearly instalments on the 1st day of the month. Please note: The instalment date has changed from the 8th to the 1st of the month. You can pay online at www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/epay Please note: There is a 2% administration fee if paying by credit card. This does not apply to debit card payments.
Don't forget! Your Direct Debit date is changing from the 8th to the 1st of the month. Could I be exempt from council tax?
Yes. Call our team on 01543 308900 and have your bank details ready, including your sort-code, account number and branch address.You can also set up a Direct Debit by filling in a form at www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/ctdirectdebit
Yes. You may be eligible for a discount or may be exempt from paying council tax if you are a full-time student, you are living in permanent residential care, you are disabled, or for another reason. For full information, visit www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/counciltaxexemptions or call 01543 308900.
When are Direct Debits taken out my bank account?
What if I don't pay my council tax?
Can I pay by Direct Debit?
We’re changing the date we take Direct Debit payments from the 8th to the 1st of every month. You can ask for your payment to come out of your account on the 18th of every month instead by calling 01543 308900. How is my council tax bill calculated?
If you don’t pay your bill on time, we will send you a reminder notice, which gives you seven days to pay. If you don’t pay within seven days you will lose your right to pay by instalments. If you then fail to pay off the full balance within a further seven days, we will begin court proceedings against you.
Your council tax bill is based on your property’s council tax band (see page 4). It assumes there are two adults living in your home (as their main home). 5
Is council tax benefit changing? Yes. From April 2013, council tax benefit is being replaced by local council tax support schemes. The amount you receive may be calculated differently. As a result of cuts in government funding, we don’t have as much money available to give out through our scheme. So, if you have claimed council tax benefit in the past, you may have to pay more towards your council tax bill. Pensioners will not be affected by this change.
What if I’m on a low income or unemployed? If you are on a low income or unemployed, you may be eligible for support on your council tax (this used to be called council tax benefit). To find out more, visit www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/ counciltaxdiscounts or call 01543 308900. What if my circumstances change? You must tell us straightaway. If you fail to tell us within 21 days, you may be faced with penalty of £70. For help and advice, please email benefits@lichfielddc.gov.uk or call 01543 308900.
While my band is being reviewed, do I have to pay council tax?
Can I appeal against my council tax band?
Does the council pass on my council tax information?
You can appeal by writing to The Listing Officer, Valuation Office Agency, Blackburn House, Old Hall Street, Hanley, Stoke on Trent ST1 3BS or by calling 03000 505700. If you and the Valuation Office Agency can’t agree on the appeal, it will be referred to a valuation tribunal.
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Yes. If an appeal is successful you will be refunded any overpaid council tax.
Yes. We are required to take part in the National Fraud Initiative (NFI) data matching exercise under section 6 of the Audit Commission Act 1998. As part of this, we provide all council tax data to the government for cross-systems and cross-authority comparison to help prevent and detect fraud.
District services you help to fund
We use the council tax we receive to deliver a wide range of services – from recycling, to leisure centres and much more. Find out how we spend council tax below: 2012/13 (last year)
2013/14 (this year)
We spent £’000 on services
We made £’000 income
Our net spend was £’000
We will We project spend £’000 £’000 on services income
Our net spend is set to be £’000
Collecting and disposing of waste and recycling
5,192
-2,915
2,277
5,128
-2,879
2,249
Sports activities, leisure centres, playschemes and more
5,384
-2,537
2,847
5,494
-2,511
2,983
Cleaning streets and roads
787
-155
632
785
-154
631
Environmental health: inspecting restaurants, bars and clubs for food hygiene, noise, other issues and more.
1,011
-259
752
1,009
-238
771
Planning and building control: processing planning applications and ensuring developments meet required standards
4,060
-2,675
1,385
3,433
-1,939
1,494
The services we deliver include:
Housing and welfare services
2,167
-611
1,556
2,146
-489
1,657
Providing council tax and housing benefits and concessionary fares
26,263
-25,356
907
21,387
-20,482
905
Boosting our economy through economic development and tourism
1,419
-1,241
178
1,356
-1,086
270
General cultural and commercial services
5,030
-4,208
822
4,715
-3,800
915
Corporate activities
3,071
-357
2,714
3,057
-357
2,700
Service spend/income
7,207
-7,164
43
8,046
-7,946
100
Capital, pension and earmarked reserves
0
-3,108
-3,108
0
-2,810
-2,810
Interest receipts/payments
13
-129
-116
12
-113
-101
Use of reserves
0
-535
-535
0
-1,297
-1,297
Government grants
0
-4,756
-4,756
0
-5,211
-5,211
Collection fund
0
0
0
0
0
0
Total council tax requirement
61,604
-56,006
5,598
56,568
-51,312
5,256
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How much do parish councils get? Your local parish, town or city council gets a proportion of money from your bill to deliver local services. This table shows how much your parish council will receive, based on the average council tax bill (Band D). 2012/13 (last year)
2013/14 (this year)
Parish council tax precept (£)
Parish council tax charge (average home Band D) (£)
Parish council tax precept (£)
Parish council tax charge (average home Band D) (£)
Alrewas
34,000
27.53
29,651
26.01
Armitage with Handsacre
68,508
38.80
66,742
39.22
Burntwood
256,142
29.74
224,150
28.39
Clifton Campville with Thorpe Constantine
15,480
41.89
14,179
41.84
Find your parish from the list below
Colton
12,012
37.60
11,488
38.92
Curborough & Elmhurst and Farewell & Chorley
3,100
11.98
2,344
10.09
Drayton Basset
21,629
47.32
20,019
47.06
Edingale
11,330
40.08
10,334
39.93
Elford
12,500
41.28
10,934
39.22
Fazeley
57,872
38.63
52,597
37.51
Fradley & Streethay
51,000
36.18
48,036
37.16
Hammerwich
20,000
14.02
18,976
14.42
Hamstall Ridware
3,250
21.47
3,267
23.45
Harlaston
6,000
31.12
5,321
30.01
Hints & Canwell
7,000
36.82
6,471
37.15
Kings Bromley
12,880
22.59
10,872
20.87
Lichfield
634,300
51.61
595,321
52.64
Longdon
13,650
17.23
14,209
19.60
Mavesyn Ridware
14,000
31.26
13,309
32.14
Shenstone
129,000
35.80
116,312
35.15
Swinfen & Packington
3,600
24.39
4,080
30.07
Wall
4,750
23.80
5,047
27.28
Weeford
1,540
16.38
1,254
14.46
Whittington & Fisherwick
44,090
37.99
40,876
37.79
Wiggington & Hopwas
19,000
40.31
17,340
39.47
Any questions? Please visit www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/counciltax or call our team on 01543 308900 Monday – Friday, 8.45am – 5pm
If you would like this leaflet in another format such as large print, please call 01543 308000. 8
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Giving Giving g you yo you more morre for ffor your councill tax
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Staf Staffordshire fordshire County Council’s Council’s job is to help make your life better – from fr om keeping you safe fr from om crime and caring for those most in need, to supporting businesses to cr create eate jobs and gr growth. owth. Here’ss where our money comes from: Here’ Council tax income General Grants Gran
22% 22 Dedicated Schools Grant
11% 42 42% Other Income
18% 7% 7 % Business Rates Retention Income
Our total income is £1,224.3 million each year year. earr..
What will you have to pay in 2013-14? ee years Staf fordshire For the last thr three Staffordshire County Council has fr ozen or even frozen ges you for cut the amount it char charges share of the Council ncil T ax. its share Tax. Her e is what you will pay to us Here fr om April 2013, depending on the from ‘band’ of your home: 14
2013/14 charge Band A
£684.83
Band B
£798.97
Band C
£913.11
Band D
£1,027.25
Band E
£1,255.53
Band F
£1,483.81
Band G
£1,712.08
Band H
£2,054.50
W We e are making the most of your money W Wee ar aree getting on with the basics while doing new things to try to make local ocal life better better. r.. This includes inclu working more more closely with the health service to look after older people, supporting childr children en thr through ough education, investing in rroads oads and running the council in dif fferent ways different to make it mor moree efficient. Her Here’s e’s a summary of how the money is split between services:
Gross
2012/13 £ millions Income
Gross
Net
2013/14 £ millions Income
Net
Schools*
593.5
593.5
-
517.1
517.1
-
Children’s services
101.5
28.0
73.5
143.9
46.8
97.0
42.4
2.3
40.1
49.0
0.0
49.0
283.1
86.4
196.7
310.9
90.3
220.6
Environmental and regulatory services
28.3
3.6
24.7
27.0
3.4
23.7
Highways and transportation
61.7
17.0
44.7
62.9
17.4
45.5
Planning services
29.1
20.8
8.3
30.5
22.2
8.3
Cultural and related services
14.9
3.0
11.8
14.8
2.9
11.9
Other services
64.3
35.3
29.0
22.8
2.6
20.3
Capital financing
46.5
-
46.5
43.4
-
43.4
2.0
-
2.0
2.0
-
2.0
1,267.3
789.9
477.4
1,224.3
702.7
521.6
Other education services Adult social care
Contingency Total spending
* Dedicated Schools Grant, which funds school budgets and associated costs, is a pr ovisional provisional allocation which will be adjusted once final pupil numbers ar aree known. Other services include such ar eas as Pr operty, Finance, HR, ICT. ICT. It also includes a levy fr om areas Property, from the Envir onment Agency (£0.3m). Environment
Working Working towards a prosperous future We ar We aree investing to make a mor moree secur securee futur futuree for everyone in the county county.. New businesses are are being attracted to Staf Staffordshire, fordshire, and more more jobs are are being created created for people. Find out more at www www.staffordshire.gov.uk .staffordshire.gov.uk 15
Find out more There is much much more more information about council tax and There our spending at www.staffordshire.gov.uk/counciltax www.staffordshire.gov.uk/counciltax To T o find out mor moree about our work call 0300 111 8000 or visit www www.staffordshire.gov.uk .staffordshire.gov.uk
If you would ld llike ik thi this iinformation f tii iin llarge print, i t Braille, audio tape/disc, British Sign Language or any other language, please ring 0300 111 8000
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