To approve the council tax amounts for each category of dwelling in Herefordshire, including precepts from West Mercia Police, Hereford and Worcester Fire Authority and Herefordshire parishes for the financial year 2018/19.

Council considered a report by the cabinet member finance, housing and corporate services to set the council tax and precepts for 2018/19.

The Leader introduced and moved the report which was seconded by Councillor NE Shaw. The cabinet member finance, housing and corporate services outlined the precepts that Herefordshire as the billing authority would combine in a single council tax charge and explained that the council tax reduction scheme was in place to assist those people who may struggle to meet their council tax liability.

Members made the points below in the debate which followed:

·         Local residents should be made more readily aware of the full council tax liability. The cabinet member finance, housing and corporate services explained that this detail was contained in the appendices to the report which provided a breakdown of the council tax charges by parish.

·         It was recognised that the council was being asked to do more with less money and the importance of the management of responsibilities was emphasised.

·         The importance of raising awareness of help available to meet council tax obligations was raised. It was felt that the website should be clear and helpful to those in difficulty. The cabinet member finance, housing and corporate services reminded members that it was also the responsibility of the local ward member to highlight to local residents what help was available.

·         The retention of business rates was raised. The cabinet member finance, housing and corporate services explained that the Council had not been selected to participate in the proposal pilot from central government to share business rates.

·         It was noted that parish precepts had increased significantly as a result of lengthsman schemes being passed onto parish councils.

·         It was recognised that the increase in the council’s precept was necessary in order to sustain local services. The current collection rates were queried. The cabinet member finance, housing and corporate services explained that the collection rates were reported to cabinet every 6 months as part of the performance report. The section 151 officer explained that the current rates were available on the website and all councillors would be made aware.

A named vote was held to agree the recommendations set out in the report.

The recommendations were approved 48 votes in favour, 1 vote against and 2 abstentions.

For (48): Councillors SP Anderson, PA Andrews, BA Baker, JM Bartlett,  WLS Bowen, TL Bowes, H Bramer, CR Butler, ACR Chappell, MJK Cooper, PE Crockett, P Cutter, BA Durkin, PJ Edwards, CA Gandy, DW Greenow, KS Guthrie, DG Harlow, EPJ Harvey, JA Hyde, TM James, PC Jinman, AW Johnson, JF Johnson, JLV Kenyon, JG Lester, MD Lloyd-Hayes, PP Marsh, RL Mayo, MT McEvilly, SM Michael, PD Newman, FM Norman, CA North, RJ Phillips, AJW Powers, PD Price, P Rone, AR Round, A Seldon, NE Shaw, WC Skelton, J Stone, EJ Swinglehurst, LC Tawn, A Warmington, DB Wilcox, SD Williams.

Against (1) RI Matthews

Abstentions (2) EE Chowns, D Summers

Resolved – that:

(a) the precepting authority details incorporated  ...  view the full minutes text for item 57