To set the council tax and precepts for 2023/24.

Council considered a report by the Leader of the Council to set the Council Tax and precepts for 2023/24. Council noted the supplement published on 2 March to provide updates to appendices 1, 2 and 5 to the 2023/24 Council Tax Setting Report.

The Cabinet Member Finance, Corporate Services and Planning proposed the recommendations and introduced the report.

The Leader seconded the recommendations for approval.

Council debated the report.

A named vote was held to set the Council Tax and precepts for 2023/24. The Council Tax and precepts for 2023/24 were carried by a simple majority.

FOR (30): Councillors Graham Andrews, Paul Andrews, Polly Andrews, Bartlett, Bartrum, Boulter, Bowen, Bowes, Chowns, Crockett, Clare Davies, Fagan, Harrington, Harvey, Hewitt, Hey, Hitchiner, Howells, James, Graham Jones, Marsh, Milln, Norman, Phillips, Stark, Summers, Symonds, Tillett, Toynbee and Wilding.

Against (1): Councillor Kenyon.

Abstentions (14); Councillors Bolderson, Durkin, Gandy, Guthrie, I’Anson, Johnson, Lester, Matthews, Millmore, Probert, Rone, Shaw, Stone and Swinglehurst.

RESOLVED:

That:

a)    The precepting authority details included at appendices 1 to 5, relating to town and parishes, West Mercia Police and Hereford and Worcester Fire Authority be approved in accordance with sections 30(2), 34(3), 36(1) and section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (as amended) and that the following amounts be approved for the year  2023/24 in accordance with sections 31 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (as amended by the Localism Act 2011):

a.    £405,393,965 being the estimated aggregate expenditure of the council in accordance with section 31A (2) of the act, including all precepts issued to it by parish councils;

b.    £273,020,000 being the estimated aggregate income of the council for the items set out in section 31A (3) of the act (including revenue support grant);

c.    £132,373,965 being the amount by which the aggregate at (a) above exceeds the aggregate at (b) calculated by the council in accordance with section 31A(4) of the act, as its council tax requirement for the year (including parish precepts); [Item R in the formula in Section 31B of the Act];

d.    £1,862.50 being the amount at (c) above divided by the amount of the council tax base calculated by the council, in accordance with section 31B of the act, as the basic amount of its council tax for the year (including parish precepts);

e.    £5,393,965 being the aggregate amount of all special items (parish precepts) referred to in section 34(1) of the act;

f.     £1,786.61 being the amount at (d) above less the result given by dividing the amount at (e) above by the amount of the council tax base calculated by the council, in accordance with section 34(2) of the act, as the basic amount of its council tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which no parish precept relates (Herefordshire Council band D council tax, excluding parishes); and

b)    It is agreed that the net tax base of 71,073.11 band D equivalent properties (being the gross tax base adjusted for an assumed collection rate) used for setting the budget requirement for 2023/24;

a.    is allocated to band D equivalent dwellings per precept area as shown in appendix 1; and

b.    the individual council tax allocations per valuation band of dwelling by parish (including fire and police precepts) as set out in appendix 5.