LDC Council tax leaflet 2015

2015/16

A guide to council tax across

Lichfield District

Lichfield District Council Services We deliver a wide range of local services in your area for around ÂŁ2.98 a week*.

In this booklet you will find out more information about how much you will pay, how we spend the money we get, and council tax discounts and exemptions. *Based on an average Band D property

Value for money We receive and spend 10% of the money you pay each month in your council tax bill. An average local home* in the district will pay £154.99 this year towards district council services.

To make sure we can continue to deliver good local services, we have increased our part of the bill by 1.99% this year. This increase will mean an average local home* will pay around 25p more a month, or £3.02 extra a year, for the services we provide - from recycling, to parks, leisure centres and more.

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?

To address cuts in our funding, last year we asked people across the district to tell us how they value the services we provide and potential ways to make savings. We did this through the Your View questionnaire.

We only keep around 10p of every pound we receive in council tax. We distribute the rest to the county council, the fire and police services, and parish, town and city councils.

70p goes to Staffordshire County Council

We received more than 1,400 responses, with people of all ages and every ward giving us their thoughts.

3p goes to the average parish council 12p goes to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner Staffordshire

The questionnaire was not a referendum, but was designed to help us understand local people's views better so we can make sound decisions about the future of our services.

To keep up to date on our savings programme and how we are using the feedback people gave us, please visit www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/fitforthefuture

10p goes to Lichfield District Council 5p goes to Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service

1

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.

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.

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

985.81

1150.10

1314.41

1478.70

1807.30

2135.90

2464.51

2957.40

Armitage with Handsacre

989.16

1154.02

1318.88

1483.73

1813.44

2143.17

2472.89

2967.46

Burntwood

984.51

1148.59

1312.68

1476.75

1804.91

2133.08

2461.26

2953.50

Clifton Campville with Thorpe Constantine

993.14

1158.66

1324.19

1489.70

1820.74

2151.79

2482.84

2979.40

Colton

993.99

1159.66

1325.33

1490.98

1822.30

2153.64

2484.97

2981.96

Curborough & Elmhurst and Farewell & Chorley

973.63

1135.90

1298.18

1460.44

1784.98

2109.53

2434.07

2920.88

Drayton Bassett

996.94

1163.09

1329.26

1495.40

1827.71

2160.02

2492.34

2990.80

Edingale

992.45

1157.85

1323.27

1488.66

1819.47

2150.29

2481.11

2977.32

Elford

992.27

1157.65

1323.03

1488.40

1819.15

2149.91

2480.67

2976.80

Fazeley

990.43

1155.49

1320.57

1485.63

1815.77

2145.91

2476.06

2971.26

Fradley & Streethay

995.05

1160.89

1326.74

1492.57

1824.25

2155.94

2487.62

2985.14

Hammerwich

976.20

1138.90

1301.60

1464.29

1789.68

2115.09

2440.49

2928.58

Hamstall Ridware

983.09

1146.93

1310.79

1474.62

1802.31

2130.01

2457.71

2949.24

Harlaston

985.76

1150.05

1314.35

1478.63

1807.21

2135.80

2464.39

2957.26

Hints & Canwell

991.96

1157.28

1322.62

1487.93

1818.58

2149.23

2479.89

2975.86

Kings Bromley

981.17

1144.70

1308.23

1471.75

1798.80

2125.86

2452.92

2943.50

Lichfield

1001.07

1167.91

1334.76

1501.29

1835.27

2168.96

2502.66

3003.18

Longdon

981.27

1144.82

1308.37

1471.90

1798.98

2126.08

2453.17

2943.80

Mavesyn Ridware

989.62

1154.55

1319.50

1484.42

1814.29

2144.16

2474.04

2968.84

Shenstone

992.29

1157.66

1323.05

1488.42

1819.18

2149.94

2480.71

2976.84

Swinfen & Packington

987.10

1151.61

1316.14

1480.64

1809.67

2138.70

2467.74

2961.28

Wall

987.81

1152.44

1317.08

1481.70

1810.96

2140.23

2469.51

2963.40

Weeford

975.52

1138.10

1300.70

1463.27

1788.44

2113.61

2438.79

2926.54

Whittington & Fisherwick

991.51

1156.76

1322.02

1487.26

1817.76

2148.27

2478.77

2974.52

Wigginton & Hopwas

992.05

1157.39

1322.74

1488.07

1818.75

2149.44

2480.12

2976.14

*The bands are worked out as a proportion of the Band D amount.

2

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 8% 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 discount. Visit www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/counciltax to download a single person 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. If you pay by Direct Debit you can ask for your payment to come out of your account on the 18th of every month instead by calling 01543 308900.

How do I pay for my council tax?

You can pay for your council tax by Direct Debit, online or over the phone. You will need your council tax number (found on your bill) and card details.

Direct Debit: Set up a Direct Debit by calling 01543 308900 or by filling in a form at www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/ctdirectdebit You will need your bank details ready, including your sort-code, account number and branch address.

Online: Pay online at www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/epay By phone: Use our automated system by calling 0845 2340 068 or by calling our team on 01543 308900.

Please note: There is a 2% surcharge if you pay with a credit card. This does not currently apply to debit card payments.

How is my council tax bill calculated?

Your council tax bill is based on your property’s council tax band (see page 2). It assumes there are two adults living in your home (as their main home).

3

Could I be exempt from council tax?

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 a range of other reasons. For full information, visit www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/counciltaxexemptions or call 01543 308900.

What if I can't pay my council tax?

If you are struggling to pay your council tax on time, please call us straightaway on 01543 308900.

If you are on a low income find out about our council tax support scheme (see page 4 for more information).

What if I miss a payment?

We will send you a reminder which gives you 7 days to pay. If you don’t pay within this time, you will lose your right to pay by instalments and will have to pay your full year's council tax balance within a further 7 days.

What if I miss more payments within the same year?

If you make a payment after the first reminder but fall behind for second time, we will send you a second reminder. This needs to be paid within 7 days or you will lose your right to pay by instalments and will have to pay your full year’s council tax balance within a further 7 days.

If you fall behind for a third time, you will be sent a final notice and will automatically lose your right to pay by instalments and the full year's council tax balance will become due.

In all instances where the full balance becomes due, unless you pay within 7 days, you will get a summons to appear at court to explain why you haven’t paid, which you can choose not to attend, and £70 will be added to your bill.

We will ask the magistrates to issue a libility order and if they grant this, a further £25 will be added to your bill. The order allows us to legally collect the money you owe. We can do this by deducting money from your benefits or earnings, or by instructing an enforcement agent (formally known as bailiffs). Ultimately, you could serve time in prison.

If you are having difficulty paying your council tax, you can contact us at any time to make an arrangement to pay, except where we have instructed enforcement agents to collect the debt on our behalf. In these circumstances, you must deal with them directly; we will not enter into any alternative arrangements unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Enforcement agents will charge you a fee that has been fixed by legislation. The initial fee is £75. If they visit your home, you will be charged a minimum fee of £235. VAT may also be added to these fees. You will also be charged more fees if goods are removed from your home. If your debt is passed to enforcement agents, it is highly unlikely that we will intervene with their course of action and you must pay them direct.

What if my circumstances change?

You must tell us within 21 days as this may affect the amount of council tax you pay. For help and advice, please call 01543 308900 or email benefits@lichfielddc.gov.uk

Can I appeal against my council tax band?

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.

While my band is being reviewed, do I have to pay council tax?

Yes. If an appeal is successful you will be refunded any overpaid council tax or be charged any underpayment.

Does the council pass on my council tax information?

Yes. We have duty to protect the public funds we administer and may use the information you have provided for the prevention and detection of fraud.

We may also share the information with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds for these purposes.

To find out more about council tax, exemptions and discounts, and the ways you can pay, please visit www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/counciltax

What if I’m on a low income or unemployed?

You may be eligible for some help to pay your council tax. This is called council tax support (formerly council tax benefit). You will need to make an application to the council, and we will assess how much help you could get based on your income, capital and who else lives in your home. To find out more and to download an application form, visit www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/claimform 4

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. Income is subtracted from what we spent on services to show our net spend.

2014/15 (last year) We made £’000 income

Collecting and disposing of waste and recycling

5,249

-3,017

2,232

5,840

-3,623

2,217

Leisure centres, pitches, parks and open spaces.

5,029

-2,288

2,742

5,130

-2,143

2,987

The services we deliver include:

Our net We will spend was spend £’000 £’000 on services

We project Our net £’000 spend is set income to be £’000

724

-114

610

698

-115

583

Environmental health: inspecting restaurants, bars and clubs for food hygiene, noise, other issues and more.

1,039

-303

737

1,046

-250

796

Planning and building control: processing planning applications and ensuring developments meet required standards

3,254

-1,868

1,387

3,517

-2,070

1,447

Cleaning streets and roads

1,195

-497

698

2,123

-1,096

1,027

21,922

-20,926

996

21,891

-20,771

1,120

1,139

-1,061

78

971

-677

294

General cultural and commercial services

2,697

-1,857

840

2,416

-1,773

643

Corporate activities

2,884

-352

2,532

2,878

-292

2,586

Service spend/income

7,632

-7,629

4

7,920

-7,925

-5 -2,456

Housing and welfare services Providing council tax and housing benefits Boosting our economy through economic development and tourism

Capital, pension and earmarked reserves Interest receipts/payments Use of reserves Government grants Collection fund Total council tax requirement

5

2015/16 (this year)

We spent £’000 on services

0

-1,805

-1,805

1,569

-4,025

13

-84

-72

162

-87

75

0

-364

-364

0

-400

-400

11,517

-16,704

-5,187

11,563

-16,587

-5,024

0

-63

-63

0

-269

-269

64,294

- 58,931

5,364

67,724

-62,103

5,621

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).

Find your parish from the list below

2014/15 (last year)

2015/16 (this year)

Parish council tax precept (£)

Parish council tax precept (£)

Parish council tax charge (average home Band D) (£)

Parish council tax charge (average home Band D) (£)

Alrewas

33,040

28.92

34,812

29.86

Armitage with Handsacre

69,787

39.04

66,644

34.89

218,923

27.91

223,972

27.91

Clifton Campville with Thorpe Constantine*

Burntwood

14,398

41.24

14,600

40.86

Colton

12,724

42.22

13,244

42.14

2,497

10.55

2,796

11.60

Curborough & Elmhurst and Farewell & Chorley* Drayton Basset

20,005

47.00

20,253

46.56

Edingale

10,347

40.15

10,496

39.82

Elford

10,939

39.35

11,112

39.56

Fazeley

52,553

37.71

53,290

36.79

Fradley & Streethay*

57,068

44.16

57,818

43.73

Hammerwich

18,995

14.48

20,752

15.45

Hamstall Ridware

3,266

23.36

3,723

25.78

Harlaston

5,321

29.89

5,424

29.79

Hints & Canwell

6,854

40.51

6,939

39.09

11,576

22.38

12,044

22.91

Lichfield

595,518

52.75

611,674

52.75

Longdon

16,729

23.04

17,148

23.06

Mavesyn Ridware

14,352

34.72

15,015

35.58

126,337

38.08

134,269

39.58

Kings Bromley

Shenstone Swinfen & Packington

4,088

30.46

4,366

31.80

Wall

5,784

30.82

6,385

32.86

Weeford

1,243

13.86

1,299

14.43

Whittington & Fisherwick*

41,588

38.78

42,410

38.42

Wiggington & Hopwas

17,324

39.45

17,582

39.23 * grouped parishes

6

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 308900.