Welcome to your 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 income from resources including your Council Tax and income generated by, for example, rents, investments and service charges. 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.
Winchester City Council
£126.27 Hampshire Police Authority
£146.25 Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority
£61.38 Hampshire County Council
£1,037.88 2
Council Tax guide 2012/13
Your Council Tax helps fund services from Hampshire County Council, such as: • support for children and families • street lighting and highways care • waste disposal • care and support for older people and people with disabilities.
ToTal Tax band d
£1,371.78
Hampshire Police Authority, which is the independent body responsible for overseeing and funding the work of Hampshire Constabulary to ensure effective and efficient policing in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, is also part funded from Council Tax. Hampshire 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 emergencies.
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 on the chart opposite.
These figures exclude parish precepts, which are shown separately on pages 4 and 5. 3
Council Tax banding information Most homes are subject to Council Tax whether a house, bungalow, flat, maisonette, mobile home or houseboat and whether owned or rented. 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
up to £40,000 £40,001 _ £52,000
PRECEPTS
Winchester City Council Hampshire County Council
49,797,960 50,154,337 1,037.88 7,067,360
146.25
2,966,117
61.38
27,900
28,400
28.71
1,400.14 1,400.49
PARISH/AREA Badger Farm Beauworth Bighton
0
0
0.00
1,371.78 1,371.78
3,000
3,500
20.32
1,389.50 1,392.10
3,540
4,000
18.35
1,387.95 1,390.13
335,304
335,776
122.96
1,495.01 1,494.74
15,000
14,000
57.43
1,432.59 1,429.21
Bramdean & Hinton Ampner
5,000
6,000
27.34
1,394.90 1,399.12
Cheriton
9,000
9,000
28.69
1,400.99 1,400.47
Bishops Sutton Bishops Waltham Boarhunt
0
0
0.00
1,371.78 1,371.78
132,000
132,340
83.12
1,454.93 1,454.90
27,170
27,170
32.40
1,404.46 1,404.18
9,800
9,800
24.98
1,396.91 1,396.76
Crawley
13,000
13,000
59.07
1,430.66 1,430.85
Curdridge
22,000
25,000
39.22
1,406.49 1,411.00
Denmead
335,665
340,700
121.01
1,492.37 1,492.79
Droxford
10,000
11,500
34.12
1,401.88 1,405.90
Durley
17,500
17,750
37.45
1,408.78 1,409.23
675
675
5.30
1,377.03 1,377.08
20,000
14,000
28.05
1,410.99 1,399.83
Chilcomb Colden Common Compton & Shawford Corhampton & Meonstoke
F
£120,001 _ £160,000 Hursley £160,001 _ £320,000 Itchen Stoke & Ovington
Exton Hambledon Headbourne Worthy
Itchen Valley
3,850
4,350
18.61
1,388.46 1,390.39
29,000
17,000
40.04
1,440.47 1,411.82
2,200
2,500
20.28
1,389.27 1,392.06
14,250
14,962
20.52
1,391.40 1,392.30
3,600
3,600
26.10
1,398.85 1,397.88
111,845
111,845
60.38
1,433.00 1,432.16
Littleton & Harestock
58,750
60,288
39.62
1,410.43 1,411.40
Micheldever
43,000
45,000
70.51
1,440.57 1,442.29
New Alresford
246,000
248,000
106.59
1,478.07 1,478.37
Kilmeston Kings Worthy
4
126.27
7,017,142
E
£320,001 and over
2012/13 £
2,945,041
£88,001 _ £120,000
H
6,101,850
2011/12 £
Hampshire Police Authority
D
G
6,058,493
2012/13 £
BAND D TOTAL COUNCIL TAX
Hampshire Fire & Rescue Authority
£52,001 _ £68,000 £68,001 _ £88,000
C
2011/12 £
*BAND D AMOUNT OF PRECEPT 2012/13 £
www.winchester.gov.uk
PRECEPTS
2011/12 £
2012/13 £
*BAND D AMOUNT OF PRECEPT 2012/13 £
BAND D TOTAL COUNCIL TAX 2011/12 £
2012/13 £
Northington
3,380
3,380
26.66
1,398.68 1,398.44
Old Alresford
9,450
9,828
38.34
1,407.92 1,410.12
Olivers Battery
24,600
25,300
33.18
1,404.35 1,404.96
Otterbourne
29,227
30,276
42.79
1,413.86 1,414.57
Owslebury
18,000
20,000
51.32
1,419.12 1,423.10
Shedfield
85,701
74,923
45.33
1,424.07 1,417.11
Soberton
27,000
27,000
32.62
1,404.52 1,404.40
South Wonston
67,626
71,626
59.72
1,429.14 1,431.50
Southwick & Widley
12,700
13,700
47.34
1,416.76 1,419.12
Sparsholt
12,750
13,388
43.32
1,413.68 1,415.10
Swanmore
113,000
161,000
121.86
1,458.26 1,493.64
Tichborne
3,500
3,500
40.03
1,412.50 1,411.81
Twyford
50,000
50,000
68.05
1,440.94 1,439.83
Upham
14,000
15,500
48.26
1,415.36 1,420.04
950
950
8.58
1,380.35 1,380.36
West Meon
21,320
21,320
55.57
1,427.84 1,427.35
Whiteley
75,929
95,164
74.00
1,430.76 1,445.78
Wickham
108,413
114,690
64.01
1,433.02 1,435.79
Wonston
26,000
35,000
57.30
1,415.32 1,429.08
868,165
872,826
61.32
1,433.10 1,433.10
Warnford
Winchester Town
* Band D Amount of Precept – the amount of money to be collected by the council for its own purposes and for Hampshire County Council, Hampshire Police Authority, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority and parish councils.
The Council Tax level For the second year running, Winchester City Council has agreed that there should be no increase in Council Tax; the Band D Council Tax is £126.27 for 2012/13 to meet the estimates of expenditure for services administered by the council. 5
The cost of services 2011/12 GROSS COST INCOME £'000 £'000
2012/13 NET COST £'000
SERVICE
GROSS COST £'000
INCOME £'000
NET COST £'000
25,009 25,009
0
Local Authority Housing (HRA)
26,723
26,723
0
27,394 26,122
1,273
Other Housing Services
29,573
28,623
950
4,061
5,831
-1,770
Highways and Transport
4,228
5,664
-1,436
5,205
3,528
1,677
Planning and Development
5,265
2,428
2,837
3,909
547
3,362
Cultural and Related Services
3,583
518
3,065
6,341
787
5,553
Environment and Regulatory
5,465
829
4,636
2,821
4
2,817
Corporate and Democratic Core
3,208
4
3,204
8,067
6,456
1,611
Central Services to the Public
8,242
6,142
2,100
2,015
4,628
-2,614
Other Operating Income & Expenditure
1,994
4,599
-2,605
84,822 72,913
11,909
Total Operational Expenditure
88,281
75,530
12,751
84,822 72,913
11,564
88,281
75,530
12,816
-345
2,203 13,767
Contributions to and from General Fund Reserves TOTALS Parish Precepts Budget Requirement
65
2,287 15,103
Financed by: Non-ringfenced Government Grants and non-domestic rates -3,543
Non Domestic Rates Redistribution
-1,095
Revenue Support Grant
0 9,129 -868
Winchester Town charge
-82 -1,504 9,261 -873
-2,203
Precepts levied by parishes
-2,287
-6,058
Winchester District charge
-6,102
-9,129
6
Non-Specific Government Grants Council Tax requirement
-4,256
Taxation
-9,261
www.winchester.gov.uk
£'000
Why is spending different from last year? Net revenue expenditure on services provided by Winchester City Council will increase next year by £1.252m as shown here.
Net budgeted expenditure 2011/12
11,564
Growth - increase in net expenditure
1,367
Savings - reduction in net expenditure
-1,226
Inflation on gross expenditure
550
Change in Reserve Contributions
410
Other
151
Net expenditure 2012/13
12,816
Town and Parish Councils Precept Requirements The table below details local councils with precept requirements of more than £140,000 in 2012/13. Requests for further information should be made to the appropriate local council clerk. 2011/12 GROSS EXPD INCOME £ £
Bishops Waltham Parish Council
Denmead Parish Council
New Alresford Town Council
Premises
124,152
75,250 48,902
GROSS EXPD INCOME £ £
NET EXPD £
120,422
73,052
47,370
Recreation & Tourism
148,278
7,520
140,758
148,991
7,600
141,391
Other
148,347
2,703
145,644
148,843
1,828
147,015 335,776
420,777
85,473
335,304
418,256
82,480
Highways
25,280
0
25,280
24,975
0
24,975
Recreation
154,805
4,430
150,375
158,994
4,600
154,394
Grants to local organisations 2,600
0
2,600
4,350
0
4,350
3,500
157,410
160,621
3,640
156,981
Other
160,910 343,595
7,930
335,665
348,940
8,240
340,700
Environment
14,700
1,800
12,900
15,568
1,817
13,751
Premises
54,700
7,600
47,100
53,100
5,897
47,203
Recreation & Tourism
48,600
6,402
42,198
46,467
5,967
40,500
0
8,000
8,000
0
8,000
Grants to local organisations 8,000 Other Swanmore Parish Council
2012/13 NET EXPD £
133,571
0
133,571
138,524
0
138,524
259,571
15,802
243,769
261,659
13,681
247,978
Highways
14,705
570
14,135
11,758
1,600
10,158
Recreation
113,010
81,515 31,495
97,942
37,642
60,300
Other
84,537
Transfer to/(from) Reserves 0 212,252
520
84,017
91,612
720
90,892
0
(16,647)
0
0
0
82,605
113,000
201,312
39,962
161,350
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. 7
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. You must appeal within six months, but if the same appeal has already been heard by a Valuation Tribunal it 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. 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 8
someone with a disability. Revaluation should take place as soon as possible. Appeals should be sent to: Listing Officer, Valuation Office Agency, 2nd Floor, Overline House, Central Station Blechynden Terrace, Southampton, SO15 1GW. 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 an appeal is pending. If the appeal is successful you will receive a full refund.
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.
www.winchester.gov.uk
Council Tax Discounts and Exemptions If you receive a discount or an exemption on your Council Tax you have a duty to advise the council of any change in your circumstances that affects your entitlement. Discounts or exemptions which have been incorrectly claimed affect the level of the Council Tax and the Council’s entitlement to a grant from Central Government. Because of this the Council has a duty to review the entitlement of discounts and exemptions. As part of the Council’s reviews on ‘single person discounts’ an exercise in crossmatching Council Tax records with the Electoral Register is carried out by the Audit Commission on data held by this Council every two years. The data matching exercise forms part of a large National Fraud Initiative and any mismatches between Council Tax and the Electoral Register data is provided to the Council for further investigation. The Council will be reviewing the data from this exercise between May and September 2012.
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 9
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.
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;
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
members of visiting forces and certain international institutions; members of religious communities (monks and nuns); prisoners (except those in jail for nonpayment of Council Tax or a fine).
www.winchester.gov.uk
What action is taken if I do not pay my Council Tax? Council Tax payments are due on the 1st of each month unless you have chosen to pay by direct debit on the 5th, 15th or 25th of the month. Your bill will detail your chosen method of payment and instalments. You must pay by the instalment dates shown on your bill to avoid recovery action being taken against you. If you are having problems paying on time it is advisable to contact us immediately to discuss this. A Reminder notice is issued 1st time you miss, pay late or pay part of an instalment Not paid within 7 days, Costs added and Court Summons issued for whole balance (any right to instalments is lost)
Not paid by court date, Further costs added A liability order is obtained allowing the Council to take further action if not paid within 14 days. Debt will be sent to Bailiffs if no payment is received within 14 days
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
Paid within 7 days, 2nd Reminder issued the next time you miss, pay late or only pay part of an instalment
Paid within 7 days, Final Notice issued the next time you miss, pay late or only pay part of an instalment. The whole balance becomes due for that period of charge.
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. 11
Modern, high quality and affordable services Over the past twelve months, Hampshire County Council has responded to the challenge of reduced government funding with an ambitious programme of savings and modernisation. We have kept down day-to-day running costs, merged departments and cut one in four senior manager posts. These efficiencies have allowed us to protect frontline services for those who need them most. Residents will also benefit from our decision to freeze our part of the Council Tax again, keeping it at the same level for the third year running.
County Council priorities • Safeguarding child protection and services for the most vulnerable • Maintaining the current eligibility criteria for adult social care • Maximising resources through increased partnership working • Supporting Hampshire’s economy, transport infrastructure and businesses • No cuts to core road maintenance Measures taken to protect frontline services • Securing savings of £55 million to cover budget gap for 2011/12 • Releasing £14 million by reducing office space • Sharing services and generating income, for example by selling our IT expertise to other councils • Placing the County Council in a strong starting position for 2012/13, when spending needs to be reduced by a further £45 million 12
A more modern focus Transforming the way we work means you may experience our services differently – perhaps delivered in a new way or in a different setting. Some of the changes include: • targeting our youth support services to the most vulnerable and helping community organisations set up youth services for all; • merging Children’s Centres’ management structures, run by third-party organisations; • preserving our library service, by varying opening times, using self service technology and local volunteers;
www.hants.gov.uk
• revising rural bus timetables to cover essential services and encouraging more community-run transport; • enabling increased capital investment in key services such as £45 million, over eight years, in ‘Extra Care’ housing alternatives to residential care, giving older people a home of their own with 24-hour help at hand; • offering a wider choice of day care opportunities for people with learning disabilities.
Where the money comes from Budget for 2011/12
£'000 715,585
Funding and function changes
13,161
Adjusted budget for 2011/12
728,746
Inflation and contingencies
30,712
Social care pressures
12,500
Efficiencies and other savings
-47,100
Council Tax freeze grant
-13,245
Budget for 2012/13
711,613
Which is financed by: General government funding: • national business rates
173,882
• government general grant
3,371
Surplus on collection funds
4,191
Council Tax requirement for 2012/13
530,169
The Council Tax requirement in 2011/12 was £526.427 million. New house building is one of the reasons we will receive more income from Council Tax in 2012/13.
Budget breakdown We expect to spend £1,752 million on services in 2012/13, compared with £1,913 million in 2011/12. To help with this cost, we get service-related grants from the Government, including a grant to cover the full cost of Hampshire schools, and we receive £168 million in income, mainly from fees and charges. Allowing for these grants and income, we have set a net spending budget of £712 million. Council Tax will fund £530 million of this. There will be no increase in the County Council’s portion of the Council Tax in 2012/13. It will be frozen again, funded by a one-off government grant. 13
Managing Hampshire’s finances wisely The Government is continuing to cut funding for councils. Our general government funding will reduce by 10.4 per cent in 2012/13. This is the joint highest percentage cut for any English county council. We already receive a low amount of government funding per person, compared to many other councils. Apart from services funded by specific grants, fees and charges, general government funding provides only £25 of every £100 needed to provide all our other services, so the rest has to come from Council Tax. Financial pressures from government funding cuts are increased further by inflation and increasing demand for services, such as care for the elderly. Despite all these pressures, the Audit Commission (which independently assesses how councils spend money) reported that, in response to government funding cuts, we "anticipated the scale of reductions needed and took early action to deliver the service changes and savings required".
14
We are on track to make the savings required. Capital and one-off money have been used to fund initiatives that will secure significant long-term and continuing cost reductions. The Audit Commission also found that, "in comparison with other county councils in England the Council provides services at a lower cost". This has enabled our Council Tax rate to be one of the lowest for a county council in England.
Some of the things we do • Champion excellence in 540 Hampshire schools • Provide and arrange services that support 95,000 vulnerable adults • Maintain more than 5,200 miles of roads • Provide over 50 libraries and Discovery Centres • Handle 800,000 tonnes of household waste
www.hants.gov.uk
Putting the lowest proportion of waste into landfill of any county council for five years running
Hampshire’s best ever GCSE results in summer 2011 Three of Hampshire’s country parks voted amongst the best in the country
An excellent Ofsted rating for our Children’s Services Resurfacing over 77 miles of roads in just six months to improve their condition as part of the award winning ‘Operation Resilience’
Accolades for our Trading Standards team who recouped £385,000 for vulnerable adults targeted by scams
Our budget for services: total £711.6 million.
To find out more about Hampshire County Council and how your Council Tax is spent, visit our website www.hants.gov.uk/budget See the back of this leaflet for more contact details.
Claim the benefit For information on Council Tax Benefit see your Council Tax bill or contact your district council. For information about Pension Credit please ring 0800 99 1234. 15
Hampshire Police Authority - ensuring efficient and effective policing for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight We are all continuing to face very challenging times during this period of austerity. This year again brings the challenge of working within a reduced budget to provide a more efficient and effective police service for the future which will continue to deliver an excellent service for the people of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. During the first year of the policing budget reductions we have managed to provide the same level and quality of service as previous years by adapting our delivery. We will continue to make the most of our resources to provide best value for money for the taxpayer.
Your Police Authority Hampshire Police Authority is the independent body responsible for overseeing the work of Hampshire Constabulary and ensuring effective and efficient policing in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. This includes setting the policing budget, local policing priorities and representing the voice of the public. The 17 members of Hampshire Police Authority, comprising nine local councillors and eight 16
independent members, work hard to ensure Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are even safer places in which to live, work and visit.
www.hampshirepoliceauthority.org
Policing priorities
Police funding
Our priority is to protect the funding of as many frontline services as possible, including targeted patrol, safer neighbourhood and local crime investigation teams.
The majority of funding for policing comes through Government grants, with around one third coming from Council Tax. The comprehensive spending review meant the Government grant paid to Hampshire Police Authority was reduced by 5.1 per cent last year and will be reduced by a further 6.7 per cent for 2012/13 as a part of a 20 per cent saving in real terms between 2011 and 2015.
Hampshire Police Authority and the Chief Constable jointly agree on three-year policing priorities, and these are published in the Policing Plan. The priorities are informed by results of consultation exercises with the public, local authorities and other agencies, along with the latest crime statistics. A full copy of the Policing Plan is available by visiting www.hampshirepoliceauthority.org 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
We are pleased to tell you we are able to freeze our part of the Council Tax precept for another year, meaning that properties in bands A to H will not have any increase in their Council Tax. By freezing the Council Tax Hampshire Police Authority will receive a government grant equivalent to 3 per cent of Council Tax. BAND
ANNUAL COST ÂŁ
A
97.50
B
113.75
C
130.00
D
146.25
E
178.75
F
211.25
G
243.75
H
292.50
17
Hampshire Police Authority budget £’000
£’000
2011/12
2012/13
286,325
270,465
Other net costs
32,458
33,084
Contributions to/(from) reserves
(4,687)
2,063
314,096
305,612
Grant funding
(212,256)
(203,594)
Council Tax
(100,798)
(101,433)
(1,042)
(0,585)
Employees
Total Funded by:
Council Tax collection fund surplus
Making the savings Due to reductions in the grant last year the authority had to make savings of £16 million. The authority has to save a further £20 million in 2012/13. The savings have been identified through a change programme which has reviewed all workings of the authority and constabulary. Additional options for savings continue to be developed in order to offset further reductions in Government grant in 2013/14 and 2014/15. Despite the savings needed in 2012/13 the authority will maintain frontline personnel numbers at the same level as at April 2011. Reductions have focused on 18
reducing costs through improved processes and different ways of working, which do not adversely impact on performance. The authority has taken a considered and structured approach to delivering savings over many years. The biggest budget reduction planned for 2012/13 is in support functions (£6.5 million) which includes introducing a new centralised service centre. A further £3 million will be saved through more efficient ways of gathering and distributing intelligence along with other changes. The constabulary is seeking to improve access to its service by placing local officers within local communities, allowing frontline policing services to be at the heart
www.hampshirepoliceauthority.org
of the communities they serve. This will result in some police stations being sold, however, safer neighbourhood policing teams will not be leaving local areas but moving to new locations within the same communities. The investment in our website will also give greater access to information, such as crimes in specific locations, and access to more services, including crime reporting. This investment, along with other changes, will save £3 million. Further savings will be made through merging units and improving criminal investigations and Criminal Justice processes (£4 million). In addition £1 million will be saved through collaboration with Thames Valley Police on operational policing, which includes roads policing, and firearms and operation support, which contains elements such as dogs and training.
Frontline numbers will be maintained and additional funds have been included for more technology that will improve efficiency and improve the quality of the services we deliver. For example, funding for additional mobile information devices will allow more officers and staff to update and access information without the need to return to a police station.
Where your money goes
The future
Hampshire Police Authority has been praised for the way its finances have been managed. The Audit Commission independently assesses public sector bodies in the way money is spent, and has
This will be the last year Hampshire Police Authority will decide on the precept level for policing. From November, a directly elected Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire will oversee policing.
concluded that “the authority has a good track record of sound financial planning”. Hampshire has the sixth lowest cost per head of population out of the 43 forces in England and Wales. By 2015 we will be a top quartile force in key performance areas and a bottom quartile force in cost. A combination of low cost and high achievement will make the constabulary one of the best value for money forces in the country.
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We make life safer We want to be the best fire and rescue service in the country and make life safer for everyone by reducing risks in our local communities. In addition to responding to fire calls and road traffic collisions, the Service also works with the community to promote fire safety and to encourage people and businesses to take measures to protect them from harm.
Our five priorities set out the areas we will focus on to achieve this: People Property Community Environment Resources
Our achievements in 2011/12 Despite the financial challenges of 2011/12, we have made significant progress this year towards achieving our vision to make life safer for everyone who lives in, works in or visits Hampshire. The Service has continued to perform well across a number of key performance indicators and after achieving exceptional performance in reducing the number of fires started deliberately during 2010 this has remained a top priority. Working with Hampshire Police, our Joint Arson Task Force has one of the most successful prosecution levels in the country, five times the national average. Another partnership initiative with Hampshire Constabulary achieving successful results is the innovative joint charitable project The Blue
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www.hantsfire.gov.uk
Lamp Trust. Designed to promote community safety and security, the scheme includes practical help for vulnerable victims of crime and road safety promotion. During the past year, we also set up projects utilising the skills and enthusiasm of community volunteers who are helping to enhance the community safety work we deliver. These volunteers are involved in delivering community safety advice to homes and businesses across the county. A separate 4x4 volunteer team of ‘off road vehicle’ owners has also been formed to assist Hampshire agencies and residents in times of adverse weather. Opening the new Winchester Fire Station was a significant achievement this year. The purpose-built facility is the first completed UK fire station to be rated "excellent" against industry standards for its environmental impact. These projects have all been introduced while continuing to keep costs under tight control. To help meet future financial challenges, the Service has also introduced a number of efficiency programmes.
This means the amount we spend per head of the population remains consistently well below the national average, and so does our Council Tax.
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 21
Good value for money?
Our budget for 2012/13
We think so, and hope you will agree.
Here is how we arrived at our budget for the year ahead:
The budget for 2012/13 is £70.5 million. This is 1.2% more than the equivalent budget last year with most of the increase arising from 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. Government grant reductions are expected over the next two years so we are planning for the future to ensure we use the money we have to greatest effect.
The cost to you We are pleased to tell you we are able to freeze our part of the Council Tax this year. This is due to efficiency measures we have put in place, and a Council Tax freeze grant from the Government. It is important
£’000
Budget for 2011/12
68,674
Changes in funding arrangements Adjusted Budget for 2011/12 Inflation
973 69,647 449
Efficiency improvements
-1,506
Council Tax freeze grant
-1,173
Increase in reserves
3,051
Budget for 2012/13
70,468
Which is financed by: National business rates
30,471
Government grant
591
Surplus on collection funds
253
Balance from Council Tax
39,153
that you know what this means in cash terms. For a Band D property the cost of your fire and rescue service is just £1.18 per week, which is the same as last year. The table below shows you exactly how much you will pay for your fire and rescue service in 2012/13.
Band A
£40.92
Band C
£54.56
Band E
£75.02
Band G
£102.30
Band B
£47.74
Band D
£61.38
Band F
£88.66
Band H
£122.76
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www.hantsfire.gov.uk
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 £400,000 in improvements to our buildings and maintaining our 51 stations.
Budget 2012/13
£’000
Preventing incidents
3,601
Protecting life and property
2,711
Responding to emergencies
58,226
Capital financing costs
2,183
Council Tax freeze grant
-1,173
Contribution to reserves
4,920
Total
70,468
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. Picture credit: Paul Murphy photography
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Winchester City Council Local Taxes Section City Offices Colebrook Street Winchester SO23 9LJ 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/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
Hampshire Police Authority Westgate Chambers Staple Gardens Winchester SO23 8AW Tel: 01962 871595 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 For questions on our budget contact: Financial Services Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters Leigh Road Eastleigh SO50 9SJ Tel: 023 8062 6867 E-mail: finance@hantsfire.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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