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Welcome to your guide to Council Tax We all use public services. Some are provided by authorities covering the whole of Hampshire, others are provided by local borough or district councils. Some of the funding for these services comes from government grants which include contributions from business rates. The rest is paid for by your Council Tax and income generated by, for example, rents, investments and charges for services. Information about the authorities funded by your Council Tax is included in this leaflet to give you an overview of the services provided. Part of your Council Tax funds services such as waste collection and kerbside recycling, street cleaning, housing, community and leisure services, provided by Winchester City Council. Your Council Tax helps fund services from Hampshire County Council, such as support for children and families, waste disposal, street lighting and highways maintenance, and care and support for older people and people with disabilities. The Police Authority which, together with Hampshire Constabulary, provides for the efficient and effective policing of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight is also funded from Council Tax. Hampshire's Fire and Rescue Authority also receives a proportion of Council Tax to prevent fires and other risks, to protect life and property and to respond to fires and other emergencies.
www.winchester.gov.uk 3
for 2010/11 For example, the total amount payable for a property in Council Tax Band D this year is £1,371.78. A summary of how your Council Tax is divided between these organisations is shown on your Council Tax bill and as follows.
£126.27
£1,037.88
TOTAL TAX BAND D
£1,371.78
£146.25
£61.38
These figures exclude parish precepts, which are shown separately on pages 4 and 5.
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Council Tax banding information
2009/10 DEMAND/ PRECEPT * £
5,880,903
Winchester City Council
Most homes are subject to Council Tax whether a house, bungalow, flat, maisonette, mobile home or houseboat and whether owned or rented.
48,141,206
Hampshire County Council
Properties are placed in one of eight bands (A to H) according to the open market value at 1 April 1991. Your Council Tax bill states which band applies to your home. A B C D
up to £40,000 £40,001 _ £52,000 £52,001 _ £68,000 £68,001 _ £88,000
F
£88,001 _ £120,000 £120,001 _ £160,000
G
£160,001 _ £320,000
E
H
£320,001 and over
COUNCIL TAX AMOUNTS 2010/11
2010/11 DEMAND/ PRECEPT * £
6,022,083 49,498,687
TAX BASE** BAND D £
47,692.11
126.27
47,692.11 1,037.88
6,719,258 Hampshire Police Authority
6,974,971
47,692.11
146.25
2,851,110 Hampshire Fire & Rescue Authority
2,927,342
47,692.11
61.38
27,900
982.74
28.39
PARISHES 27,600 0
Badger Farm Beauworth
2,750
Bighton
3,750
Bishops Sutton
319,950 13,000
Bishops Waltham
55.51
0.00
166.02
16.56
3,540
218.78
16.18
322,393
2,718.59
118.59
13,000
247.09
52.61
5,000
Bramdean & Hinton Ampner
5,000
217.95
22.94
8,500
Cheriton
9,000
300.29
29.97
0
56.54
0.00
122,415
1,585.19
77.22
0 112,495 27,057 9,200
Boarhunt
0 2,750
Chilcomb Colden Common Compton & Shawford Corhampton & Meonstoke
27,170
819.81
33.14
9,800
386.95
25.33
12,500
Crawley
12,500
221.23
56.50
18,000
Curdridge
18,000
627.01
28.71
318,240
Denmead
331,189
2,715.40
121.97
8,000
Droxford
10,000
330.93
30.22
14,500
Durley
15,500
470.83
32.92
1,300
Exton
140
132.79
1.05
14,000
504.49
27.75
3,500
230.64
15.18
30,000
426.51
70.34
2,200
125.24
17.57
13,820
727.08
19.01
12,000 3,500 30,000 2,200 14,040 3,750 107,490
Hambledon Headbourne Worthy Hursley Itchen Stoke & Ovington Itchen Valley Kilmeston Kings Worthy
3,600
136.53
26.37
109,640
1,808.64
60.62
58,750
Littleton & Harestock
58,750
1,506.01
39.01
36,000
Micheldever
40,000
627.01
63.79
247,000
New Alresford
245,000
2,297.05
106.66
www.winchester.gov.uk 5 2009/10 DEMAND/ PRECEPT* £
COUNCIL TAX AMOUNTS 2010/11
2010/11 DEMAND/ PRECEPT * £
TAX BASE** BAND D £
3,280
Northington
3,380
125.74
26.88
8,787
Old Alresford
9,000
257.89
34.90
23,300
Olivers Battery
24,000
759.97
31.58
26,325
Otterbourne
26,682
698.05
38.22
16,000
Owslebury
17,000
383.02
44.38
99,331
Shedfield
84,985
1,633.78
52.02
17,000
Soberton
27,000
826.25
32.68
59,585
South Wonston
64,597
1,172.50
55.09
10,650
Southwick & Widley
11,700
280.80
41.67
5,775
Sparsholt
108,000
Swanmore
3,475
Tichborne
6,353
301.36
21.08
113,000
1,296.90
87.13
3,500
86.03
40.68
44,000
Twyford
45,000
714.64
62.97
10,750
Upham
12,250
321.42
38.11
950
111.70
8.50
20,705
379.54
54.55
950
Warnford
20,500
West Meon
40,495
Whiteley
50,189
1,255.05
39.99
90,139
Wickham
100,797
1,765.93
57.08
26,000
Wonston
26,000
597.03
43.55
863,506
14,081.66
61.32
807,857
Winchester Town
* Demand/Precept – the amount of money to be collected by the council for its own purposes and for Hampshire County Council, Hampshire Police Authority and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority and parish councils. ** Tax Base – the total number of banded properties equated to Band D.
The Council Tax level Winchester City Council has set a Band D Council Tax of £126.27 for 2010/11 to meet the estimates of expenditure for services administered by the council. This is an increase of 1.5% over the previous year.
The council is proud of the wide range of services it provides for you, as well as being committed to keeping Council Tax increases as low as possible. This means that we constantly review how our services are delivered to make them more efficient. It is expected that the council will have ongoing value for money gains of £500,000 by March 2010. This includes actual savings of £264,000 for 2008/09. In real terms it means that £11 from each Band D property’s Council Tax can now make a difference to more vital services, providing you better value for money. The average predicted saving for all district authorities is £41.
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The cost of services 2009/10
2010/11
GROSS COST INCOME £'000 £'000
NET COST £'000
23,365 23,365
530
20,704 20,174
SERVICE
GROSS COST £'000
INCOME £'000
Council Housing
23,404
23,404
Housing Benefits
NET COST £'000
-
24,389
23,925
464
2,870
270
2,600
Other Housing Services
2,498
178
2,319
5,845
5,605
240
Highways and Transport
5,458
6,197
-739
5,577
2,088
3,489
Planning and Development
5,864
2,245
3,619
5,453
533
4,920
Culture, Recreation and Related Services
4,827
822
4,005
7,196
702
6,494
Environment and Regulatory
6,752
877
5,876
2,719
4
2,715
Corporate and Democratic Core
2,955
4
2,951
5,528
5,145
383
Council Tax Benefits
6,258
5,868
390
1,175
354
821
Council Tax and Rate Collection
1,086
354
731
Central Services to the Public:
1,460
331
1,129
1,353
365
988
-4,861
3,935
-8,796
Interest and Other Operating Income & Expenditure
-2,351
3,719
-6,069
77,031 62,506
14,525
Total Operational Expenditure
82,494
67,958
14,536
87
567
-480
82,581
68,525
14,056
-
878
-878
77,031 63,384
13,647 2,031 15,678
Other Central Services to the Public
Contributions to and from General Fund Reserves TOTALS Parish Precepts Budget Requirement
2,098 16,154
Financed by: Government support -5,669
Non Domestic Rates redistribution
-1,308
Revenue Support Grant
-889
Other Government grants
-119
(Surplus)/deficit on Collection Fund
-38
19 8720 -808 -2,031 -5,881 -8,720
Council Tax requirement Winchester Town charge Precepts levied by parishes Winchester District charge Total Council Tax
-6,124
8,984 -864 -2,098 -6,022 -8,984
www.winchester.gov.uk 7
Why is spending different from last year? Net revenue expenditure on services provided by the council will increase next year by £409,000, as shown below: £'000
Net expenditure 2009/10
13,647
Growth - increased expenditure
1,395
Savings - reduced expenditure
-1,464
Increased income
-903
Reduced net interest receivable
238
Inflation on gross expenditure
542
Reduced contributions from reserves
398
Other
203
Net expenditure 2010/11
14,056
Parish council revenue budgets A parish council whose precept exceeds £140,000 must publish details of its expenditure plans. The following information has been supplied by the relevant parish councils: Bishops Waltham Parish Council
2009/10
2010/11
Budget requirement
£407,135
£395,578
Precept
£319,950
£322,393
£119.29
£118.59
Budget requirement
£337,141
£349,116
Precept
£318,240
£331,189
Tax Band D equivalent Denmead Parish Council
Tax Band D equivalent New Alresford Town Council
£119.23
£121.97
Budget requirement
£238,095
£255,571
Precept
£247,000
£245,000
£107.58
£106.66
Tax Band D equivalent
If you would like any further information on parish precepts please contact the relevant parish council. Contact details are shown on the council’s website – www.winchester.gov.uk
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Flood defence Under the provisions of the 1989 Water Act, the Environment Agency issues a levy on Hampshire County Council.
Appeals Council Tax valuations are based on the value of a property if it had been sold on 1 April 1991. You may appeal against the valuation if: you believe there has been a material increase or reduction in the value (see below); you start or stop using part of your home for business, or the balance between business and domestic use changes; the Listing Officer has altered the banding; you become the new Council Tax payer for a property.
A material reduction in value may be caused by demolition of any part of the property, any change in the physical state of the local area or an adaptation to make the dwelling suitable for someone with a disability. Revaluation should take place as soon as possible. Appeals should be sent to: Listing Officer, Valuation Office Agency, Ground Floor, The Square, Basing View, Basingstoke RG21 4EB. You may also appeal to Winchester City Council if you believe: you are not liable to pay Council Tax because your property is exempt; there has been a mistake in calculating your bill.
You must still pay Council Tax while You must appeal within six months, an appeal is pending. If the appeal is successful you will receive a full but if the same appeal has already been heard by a Valuation Tribunal it refund. will not be considered again. A material increase in value may result from building, engineering, or other work, carried out on the property. Revaluation takes place after a sale, so the appellant would usually be the new owner or resident.
www.winchester.gov.uk 9
People with disabilities You may be entitled to a reduction if you, or someone who lives with you, needs a room, an extra bathroom, kitchen or extra space to meet special needs because of a disability. The bill will be reduced to the band immediately below your property’s band. Band A properties also qualify for this reduction which will be equal to one-sixth of the Band A charge. If special fixtures have been added for a disabled resident and reduce the value of your home contact the Listing Officer.
Exempt properties Some dwellings, including empty properties and those occupied only by students, are exempt. These include empty properties that are: Class A undergoing or in need of structural alteration or major repair (exempt for up to twelve months) Class B owned by a charity (exempt for six months) Class C unfurnished (exempt for six months) Class D left empty by someone who has been sent to prison Class E & I left empty by someone who is receiving care in a hospital, residential home or elsewhere Class F waiting for probate or letters
of administration to be granted (and for up to six months afterwards) Class G empty because occupation is prohibited by law Class H waiting to be occupied by a Minister of Religion Class J left empty by someone who is caring for another person Class K left empty by students Class L repossessed Class Q the responsibility of a bankrupt’s trustee Class R empty caravan pitches or boat moorings Class T empty granny annexes Properties can also be exempt when occupied: Class M & N only by students, including halls of residence Class O as Armed Forces barracks and married quarters. These are also exempt, but occupants will contribute to the cost of local services through a special arrangement Class P by visiting forces Class S only by persons under eighteen Class U by persons who are severely mentally impaired Class V by diplomats Class W and it forms part of a single property and is occupied by a dependent relative of a person who is resident in that property You must advise Winchester City Council of any change in circumstance that affects your entitlement to an exemption. If you fail to do so you may be fined.
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Discounts The full Council Tax bill is based on two adults (18 years and over) living in a property. If one adult lives alone they will be entitled to a reduction of 25%. If a property is empty (no one’s main home and unfurnished) the bill will be reduced by 50%. If a property is a second home (no one’s main home and furnished) the bill will be reduced by 10%. If the dwelling is job-related then please contact the Local Taxes Section of the council for further information. Some people will be disregarded when counting the number of resident adults: full-time students, student nurses, apprentices and those on various government training schemes; patients resident in hospital; residents of care homes; people who are severely mentally impaired; people staying in certain hostels or night shelters; 18 and 19 year olds who are at, or have just left, school; care workers on low pay, usually charity workers;
people caring for someone with a disability, who is not a spouse, partner or child under 18; members of visiting forces and certain international institutions; members of religious communities (monks and nuns); prisoners (except those in jail for non-payment of Council Tax or a fine).
You must advise Winchester City Council of any change in circumstance that affects your entitlement to a discount. If you fail to do so you may be fined.
www.winchester.gov.uk 11
Council Tax Benefits There are two main forms of Council Tax Benefit. Main Council Tax Benefit is normally available to people on low incomes and there are extra allowances (up to 100% reduction) for: one-parent families; families with children; pensioners; people with disabilities. Second Adult Rebate applies if you are the only liable person for Council Tax in a household, but share the home with one or more persons. You may be able to claim a rebate if someone over 18 shares the home and is: not paying you rent; not your spouse or partner; not liable for Council Tax; on a low income. If you would like to apply for benefit, please ask for an application form and complete and return it as soon as possible.
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Looking after Hampshire, looking out for you Hampshire County Council is one of only three county councils awarded the top rating by the Audit Commission. Praised for excellent financial planning, we’ve kept Council Tax low and reinvested efficiency savings to protect services. In 2010/11, we will provide 1.3 million residents with essential local services costing £1,830 million.
The recession means more demand for local services, such as care for the elderly and safeguarding vulnerable adults and children. For example, in the 2010/11 Adult Services budget, an extra £5.3 million has been invested in older people. This provides 1,219 more social care packages to the over-65s, as well as paying the extra costs of social care for people who can no longer afford it from their savings. Our priorities are based on what you tell us matters most.
recreational facilities too, such as discovery centres and country parks, for people of all ages to enjoy.
How every penny counts Making Hampshire safer and more secure for all is our top priority Our Trading Standards Team continues to increase the number of ‘no cold calling zones’ across the county, to discourage rogue traders and distraction burglars.
For more on the County Council’s performance and how your Council Tax is spent, read the spring edition of Hampshire Now, due to reach you towards the end of March 2010, or visit www.hants.gov.uk/corporatestrategy or www.hants.gov.uk/hampshirenow.
Maximising wellbeing We are leading the way with personal budgets, enabling adults to get more involved in shaping their care and support. We provide and maintain
Enhancing our quality of place To make the county a good place to be, we are spending more on roads and using the latest laser technology to assess the effects of heavy traffic and climate change, so we can direct resources where they are most needed. Residents can also easily contact us through our contact centre, Hantsdirect.
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Where the money comes from Budget for 2009/10 Adjustment for funding and function changes
£'000 657,009 -131
Adjusted budget for 2009/10
656,878
Efficiency improvements
-32,346
Increased spending on services
36,325
Inflation
11,272
Budget for 2010/11
672,129
Which is financed by:
Spending wisely – providing you with more for less In 2010/11, we’ll receive only 1.5% more general Government funding than last year, well below the 4% average increase for counties. After we hand over a direct grant to our schools, the Government provides only £1 of every £5 needed for our other services in Hampshire, so the rest has to come from Council Tax.
General government funding • national business rates • Government general grant Surplus on district councils’ collection funds Balance to be met by Council Tax payers
128,217 18,618 2,062 523,232
Over the next year we expect social care costs to continue to rise because: ● from October 2010, the Government will contribute less than two thirds of the funding needed to provide free personal home care for adults with higher needs, if a proposed law is passed ● an ageing population and more young people with complex disabilities living into adulthood means more Hampshire residents with a greater need for care and support ● we need to look after a lot more vulnerable children and we are continuing to strengthen our service for safeguarding children. Balancing the extra demands with planned efficiency improvements, we expect to spend £1,830 million on
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services in 2010/11, compared with £1,749 million in 2009/10. Servicerelated grants from the Government help with this cost, including a grant to cover the full cost of Hampshire schools, and £169 million in income, mainly from fees and charges. Allowing for grants and income, we have set a spending budget of £672 million, an increase of £15 million. This means a Council Tax rise of 1.9%, as promised last year.
Our promise to keep Council Tax as low as possible During these tough economic times, we aim to keep providing the highest-quality services and good value for money, and plan to make £32.3 million of efficiency savings in 2010/11 that will be ploughed back into safeguarding services. We also plan to save money by doing more with the money we have and working efficiently with our partner organisations. In the three years to March 2011, the Government expects councils
to make savings equal to 10.3% of their spending. In the year to March 2010 we expect to add £21.6 million to the £26.5 million of savings achieved by March 2009 after reviewing costs, using smarter buying practices and reducing workforce costs. We made £8.6 million in savings by modernising and improving the way we buy adult social care services, and £3.1 million from our waste contract. Our running total was £48.1 million in savings by March 2010, nearly £8 million above the Government’s target. Savings have protected services and reduced Council Tax rises so that Hampshire still has one of the lowest council taxes compared to other county councils while maintaining highquality services. The average value of all county council efficiency forecasts by March 2010 was £98 per band D Council Tax payer, compared with our £96 per band D Council Tax payer. This average does not give a true picture of comparisons between councils, for reasons we explain in more detail on our website. See www.hants.gov.uk/finance/budget.
www.hants.gov.uk 15
salt for a daily run covering 480 miles of Hampshire’s roads in bad weather
14.5 tonnes of household waste to be disposed of
50 undercover checks that help ensure alcohol and cigarettes aren’t sold to underage youngsters
the creation of a ‘no cold calling zone’ for 500 homes, to help prevent doorstop crime
school escorts to accompany six children with learning disabilities to school every day for a week
143 older people to spend a day in day care
Our budget for services: total £672.1 million.
For more on the County Council and how your Council Tax is spent, visit our website www.hants.gov.uk/finance/budget. See the back of this leaflet for more contact details. These pages (12-15) have been checked for clarity by Plain Language Commission.
Claim the benefit For information on Council Tax Benefit see your Council Tax bill or contact your district council (see back of leaflet for details). For more about Pension Credit please ring 0845 60 60 265.
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Hampshire Police Authority - delivering an effective and efficient police service for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight When people call their local police, they want to be confident they will receive an excellent service and feel safe in their community. Hampshire Constabulary wants to continually improve that service, fully supported by the Police Authority which also makes sure the service is meeting the needs of local people.
Crime is falling, so our two counties are becoming safer places for us to live, work and visit but Hampshire Constabulary, supported by the Police Authority, will continue to do all we can to drive it down further. The public also tell us they are increasingly confident in the way the police are tackling crime, and the ways officers and PCSOs are becoming involved in local communities to prevent crime before it happens. The way victims of crime are kept informed by Hampshire Constabulary is also improving, and the Police Authority encourages this approach by giving grants to organisations that support victims of crime.
of service continues in the future. Senior officers and officials from the Police Authority and Constabulary are constantly exploring ways to make savings that do not impact on frontline policing. It is a fine balancing act, but we are clear about what we want to achieve - and that is a high quality policing service for our communities.
The national economic picture means that tough decisions have to be made to ensure this level
It is made up of 17 members who are elected councillors and independent members of the
Your Police Authority Hampshire Constabulary is responsible for operational policing, while Hampshire Police Authority is an independent organisation that ensures there is an effective and efficient police force for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
www.hampshirepoliceauthority.org 17
public. The Authority is responsible for consulting with the public about their policing priorities, working together with the Chief Constable to set the Policing Plan, and setting a budget to ensure the Constabulary can meet public expectations and the Authority’s challenging targets to reduce crime.
The priorities are underpinned by a set of values which aims to secure the trust and confidence of our communities. In everything we do, we CARE: Common sense and sound judgement Act with integrity, courage and compassion Respect people and keep our promises Experiences used to learn and improve A full copy of the Policing Plan is available by visiting www.hampshirepoliceauthority.org
Policing Priorities The Police Authority and the Chief Constable jointly agreed on three-year policing priorities in 2008, and these are published in the Policing Plan. The priorities are informed by the results of consultation with the public, local authorities and other agencies, together with the latest crime statistics. Our consultation programme includes over 30 community events across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
Get in touch with us If you would like to talk to your Safer Neighbourhoods Team, call the police non-emergency number on 101 (or 0845 045 45 45 if outside Hampshire and Isle of Wight) or visit www.hampshire.police.uk. If you would like to know more about the work of the Police Authority or contact any of its members to talk about the level of service you are receiving from Hampshire Constabulary, please visit www.hampshirepoliceauthority.org or call 01962 871595.
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Ensuring value for money from your police service The majority of funding for policing comes through Government grants, with around one third coming from Council Tax. The budget for 2010/11 is £313.7m compared with £304.7m in 2009/10. The increase is £9.0m or 2.97%.
The Authority has been praised for the way its finances are managed. The Audit Commission independently assesses public sector organisations in the way money is spent, and has concluded the Authority scored three out of a maximum of 4, meaning it is performing well.
Council Tax for 2010/11 In 2010/11 the policing element for a council tax band D is £146.25 per year. This is an increase of £4.14 compared to last year, or 2.91 per cent.
How the money will be spent
£’000
Budget for 2010/11
313,749
Police grant
125,322
Revenue support grant
11,119
National business rates
76,573
Total general government grants Surplus on Council Tax collection funds Council Tax precept
213,014
579 100,156
The majority of the money (84 per cent) will be spent on employees, in particular the delivery of excellent frontline policing. The additional cost in 2010/11 of providing current service levels is £11.5m. Most of this increase in cost is pay and price inflation (£7.7m), but there is also an additional £1.6m for capital financing. Additional growth and other budget pressures of £3.7m have been included to meet new mandatory
www.hampshirepoliceauthority.org 19
requirements and increase the amount of time officers can spend on the streets. This includes £0.6m to replace body armour before it reaches its expiry date and £0.8m to increase the use of mobile data that will allow officers to undertake more work outside of police stations. Savings of £6.2m have been identified to reduce the impact on Council Tax payers and balance the budget. The Authority and Constabulary will use efficiency
savings made in 2009/10 to support the 2010/11 budget with a contribution from reserves of £2.3m. Another £1.5m will be saved in 2010/11 by delivering further efficiency savings in police staff working practices. A Savings Team is in place to identify opportunities for further efficiency savings in 2010/11 and beyond. The efficiency savings will help to improve frontline policing despite the challenging financial outlook. The remaining balance is met through the increase in Government Grant and council tax receivable of £9.0m.
Efficiency savings AUTHORITY TYPE
EFFICIENCY AUTHORITY
ESTIMATED CUMULATIVE EFFICIENCY SAVINGS FOR THE PRECEDING YEAR (2009/10)
Police Authority
Hampshire Police 24,665,000
ESTIMATED CUMULATIVE EFFICIENCY SAVINGS PER BAND D DWELLING
CUMULATIVE EFFICIENCY SAVINGS FOR THE YEAR BEFORE THE PRECEDING YEAR (2008/09)
RELEVANT BENCHMARK FOR THE AUTHORITY
36
9,359,000
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Performance has also improved during this time despite the financial challenges. Hampshire Police Authority continues to have among the lowest council tax precepts for Band D of the 31 shire police authorities. Net revenue expenditure per head of population is the 6th lowest of 41 police authorities, 11% below the average. An independent review by the Audit Commission concluded the Authority is performing well on value for money.
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We make life safer We want to make life safer for everyone by reducing risks in our local communities.
Our achievements in 2009/10 We want to be the best fire and rescue service in the country and 2009/10 has been particularly successful for us. We have made further progress in reviewing how we organise and deliver our services. We have reduced from four directorates to three to ensure we work in the most effective and efficient way possible.
We have continued to focus on our five priorities to achieve this: 쮿 쮿 쮿 쮿 쮿
People Property Community Environment Resources
All of our aims and objectives fit into these priority areas so that our efforts are concentrated on the most important issues.
We have successfully taken our first steps in reducing the Service’s carbon footprint. We achieved a 4% reduction in emissions – equivalent to 200 tonnes of carbon dioxide. This is a good start towards the challenging 20% reduction target we are aiming to achieve by 2012. With arson still the biggest single cause of fire in the UK, our Arson Task Force is making great progress in reducing the number of fires started deliberately.
www.hantsfire.gov.uk 21
The number of arrests we make is seven times higher than the national average. We know that sprinklers save lives and have been working hard to promote their installation in the homes of vulnerable people. Working in partnership with Southern Water and Sentinel Housing Association, we have been successful in getting sprinklers installed as part of the regeneration project for Bishop’s Green near Basingstoke. This makes life safer for the residents. Our approach of sending a specialist team to deal with animal rescues is a cost-effective way of ensuring public safety and animal welfare. Our animal rescue specialists are now regarded as
the most expert and advanced in the country.
Our Co-responder partnership with South Central Ambulance Service continues to prove successful and with further schemes being implemented in 2010, we anticipate we will deal with more than 2,500 calls, significantly contributing to patients’ chances of survival.
If you want to know more about our plans for the next three years please take a look at our latest Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service Plan on our website www.hantsfire.gov.uk/plan Or you can call us on 023 8064 4000
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Good value for money? We think so, and hope you will agree. The budget for 2010/11 is £68.2 million. This is 2.25% more than the equivalent budget last year with most of the increase arising from national pay awards for staff and the cost of inflation. The Authority is committed to keeping Council Tax increases as low as possible so we constantly review how our services are delivered to make them more efficient. By March 2010 we expect to add £1.211 million to the £2.242 million savings achieved in the previous year making a total of £3.453 million. We have invested these savings to improve services and reduce pressure on Council Tax. The impact of these savings on a Band D property is £6 per year. This compares well with the average saving for all fire and rescue authorities of £4. In 2010/11 we plan to deliver efficiency savings of £820,000 by reducing staff costs and reviewing our purchasing processes.
Our budget for 2010/11 Here is how we arrived at our budget for the year ahead: £’000
Budget for 2009/10
66,659
Inflation
1,167
Service developments
500
Efficiency improvements
-820
Contribution to reserves
654
Budget for 2010/11
68,160
Which is financed by: National business rates
25,555
Government grant
3,711
Surplus on collection funds Balance from Council Tax
245 38,649
The cost to you We are increasing our part of the Council Tax this year by 1.8%. This is well below the increase in state pensions. It is important that you know what this means in cash terms. For a Band D property the increase is just two pence per week. The table below shows you exactly how much you will pay for your fire and rescue service in 2010/11. Band A
£40.92
Band E
£75.02
Band B
£47.74
Band F
£88.66
Band C
£54.56
Band G
£102.30
Band D
£61.38
Band H
£122.76
www.hantsfire.gov.uk 23
Where your money goes Over 75% of our budget is spent on employing staff - our most valuable resource. The remainder is spent on essential supplies and services, transport, property and information and communications technology, as well as funding our capital programmes. Every year we spend about £2.5 million on our vehicle replacement programme, to ensure we have a modern, well-maintained fleet of vehicles. We invest £500,000 in improvements to our buildings and the new fire station at Winchester will be completed in 2011.
Budget 2010/11 Preventing incidents
4,554
Protecting life and property
1,417
Responding to emergencies
59,676
Borrowing costs
1,129
Capital paid for from revenue
730
Increase in reserves
654
Total
Full budget details and information about how your Council Tax is spent are available on our website: www.hantsfire.gov.uk If you have any questions our contact details are on the back of this booklet.
£’000
68,160
Winchester City Council
Hampshire Police Authority
Local Taxes Section City Offices Colebrook Street Winchester SO23 9LJ
Westgate Chambers, Staple Gardens Winchester SO23 8AW Tel: 01962 871595
For Council Tax enquiries Tel: 01962 848288 For all other enquiries Tel: 01962 840222 E-mail: counciltax@winchester.gov.uk www.winchester.gov.uk
Hampshire County Council Budget and Council Tax www.hants.gov.uk/finance/budget For questions on our budget contact: County Treasurer’s Department Hampshire County Council The Castle, Winchester SO23 8UB E-mail: budget@hants.gov.uk For more about our services, go to: www.hants.gov.uk Tel: 0845 603 5638 * Textphone: 0845 603 5625* E-mail: info@hants.gov.uk
* Calls to 0845 numbers are free on some BT call plans but will cost between 4p (local rate) and 6p (national rate) per minute for BT customers not on a plan. Calls made using other service providers or mobiles may cost more. Alternatively call 01329 225398 - standard and local call rates may apply to this number.
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Printed on environmentally friendly paper.
E-mail: police.authority@hampshire.pnn.police.uk www.hampshirepoliceauthority.org
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority Tel: 023 8064 4000 E-mail: reception@hantsfire.gov.uk www.hantsfire.gov.uk Budget questions Financial Services Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters Leigh Road Eastleigh SO50 9SJ Tel: 023 8062 6867 E-mail: finance@hantsfire.gov.uk
This information is available as a large print format for anyone who has difficulties reading this publication.
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