To approve the council’s council tax requirement and set the council tax amounts for each category of dwelling in Herefordshire for 2014/15, including precepts from West Mercia Police, Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Authority and parishes.

Prior to the commencement of the debate on Council Tax the Chairman reminded Council this was not the time to discuss the budget again and that Members should restrict the debate to the subject matter.

The Leader moved the recommendation for the Council Tax Resolution.  The following points were made during the debate:

·         Council at its February meeting had set the budget.  Council now had a duty to ensure the budget could be paid for through the Council Tax.  It was understandable that some Members would prefer no increase, but it was felt there was little option than to accept the 1.9% increase.

·         Reference was made to the referendum by Brighton and Hove Council regarding Council tax and it was proposed that in future similar action for a referendum should be taken in Herefordshire.

·         Concern was expressed on the way the Council engaged with the public over the choices that needed to be made on the budget and that there had not been a specific question asking whether residents whether they would pay more.  A consultation had been carried out in Ledbury and 56% had indicated that they would be prepared to pay more Council tax.

·         Councillor Morgan, Deputy Leader, seconded the recommendation and stated the 1.9% increase was comparable to other neighbouring counties.  It was acknowledged that there was a below average wage in Herefordshire and therefore consideration should be given to a reduction in Council tax in future years.

·         Following a point of order the Solicitor to the Council reminded Council of the legal requirement under regulations set earlier this year to have a named vote for the Council tax resolution.

Following the named vote for Council tax, Council voted:

For                   37

Against            01

Abstain            10

Councillors for the recommendation:

Barnett, Andrews, Atkinson, Bartrum, Blackshaw, Bowen, Bramer, Cutter, Durkin, Edwards, Guthrie, Hardwick, Harvey, Hope, Hyde, Johnson, Jones, Kenyon, Knipe, Lester, Mayo, Millar, Morgan, Nenadich, Nicholls, North, Phillips, Powell, Powers, Price, Robertson, Rone, Seldon, Sinclair-Knipe, Stone, Taylor and Wilcox.

Against:

Preece.

Abstentions:

Bridges, Chappell, Chave, James, Lloyd-Hayes, Matthews, McCaull, Michael, Norman and Norris.

RESOLVED

THAT:

a)    Council noted the tax base for 2014/15;

1)    for the whole council area is 64,942.09 band D equivalent properties;

2)    for dwellings in those parts of the area to which a parish precept relates as in the attached at Appendix 1 to the report;

b)    in respect of council tax for 2014/15 that the following amounts be approved by the Council for the year 2014/15 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (as amended by the Localism Act 2011);

(i)     £331,897,091                         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;

(ii)     £247,796,013                        being the estimated aggregate income of the council for the items set out in section 31A (3) of the act (including Revenue Support Grant);

(iii)    £84,101,078                          being the amount by which the aggregate at (b)(i) above exceeds the aggregate at (b)(ii) calculated by the council in accordance with section 31A(4) of the act, as its council tax requirement for the year (including parish precepts);

(iv)    £1,295.02                              being the amount at b(iii) 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);

(v)     £2,837,742                             being the aggregate amount of all special items (parish precepts) referred to in section 34(1) of the act;

(vi)     £1,251.32                              being the amount at (iv) above less the result given by dividing the amount at (v) 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)

c)    that the net budget requirement for 2014/15, excluding parishes, be approved as £146,135,000;

d)    that the Council tax requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2014/15 (excluding parishes) be approved as £81,263,336; and

e)     that the precepting authority details incorporated in Appendices 1 to 5 of the report, relating to parishes, West Mercia Police and Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue 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).