Issue - meetings

The Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Finance.

RESOLVED:

1.    That Executive approve a Council Tax Base for 2021/22 for the purpose of setting the Collection Fund budget of 61,354.3 Band D equivalents, this being a net increase in the Tax Base on 2020/21 of 0.37% after allowing for growth of 1.56% and an increase in local concessionary tax support as a result of COVID 19.

2.    That Executive delegate authority to the Chief Financial Officer in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance to make further adjustments to the final tax base where necessary to reflect any changes in the underlying assumptions and report the outcome to Executive in January.

The Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance and Governance, Councillor Schofield, introduced a report which proposed the Council Tax Base for the Council to adopt by the end of January 2021. The report also proposed Tax Bases for Salfords and Sidlow Parish Council and Horley Town Council.

Councillor Schofield explained that, despite strong growth expected in the area, the proposed Tax Base increase was modest due to expected increases in Council Tax support claimants as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In response to a query from a Visiting Member, Councillor Schofield confirmed that there had been an increase in the number of Council Tax support claimants. A further increase was expected as a result of the second lockdown.

The Interim Head of Finance explained that the income from every household in receipt of Council Tax support was approximately 90% of a full paying household.

Due to the uncertainties that existed, an additional recommendation was proposed that would delegate authority to the Chief Financial Officer in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance to make further adjustments to the final tax base where necessary to reflect any changes in the underlying assumptions and report the outcome to Executive in January.

RESOLVED:

1. That Executive approve a Council Tax Base for 2021/22 for the purpose of setting the Collection Fund budget of 61,354.3 Band D equivalents, this being a net increase in the Tax Base on 2020/21 of 0.37% after allowing for growth of 1.56% and an increase in local concessionary tax support as a result of COVID 19, and to RECOMMEND the Council Tax Base for 2021/22 be recommended to Council for approval.

2. That Executive delegate authority to the Chief Financial Officer in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance to make further adjustments to the final tax base where necessary to reflect any changes in the underlying assumptions and report the outcome to Executive in January.