Council Tax leaflet 2017-18 - Windows · PDF fileCOUNCIL TAX 2017/18 Introduction to Council...

££££

£ £ ££COUNCIL TAX 2017/18

Introduction to Council Tax

Your Council Tax helps to pay for public services in Doncaster and includes the following:

• Children’s Social Care • Council education functions &

youth services• Adult Social Care & older people • Public transport, road

maintenance & street lighting • Street cleaning, waste collection

& disposal • Leisure centres, libraries, culture

& tourism • Parks & open spaces• Public health • Environmental & building

services

Further information about these charges can be seen on your bill and in the Council Tax table.

• Supporting business & creating jobs

Part of your Council Tax also pays for the following services and is collected on their behalf by Doncaster Council:

• South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority

• South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner

If you live in a parish, your Council Tax also contributes to services provided in your own area.

BUDGET DONCASTER 2017How much does it cost to deliver council services to the people of Doncaster every day?*

155

53

339

79

6

67

75

But Council Tax gives us only £275,000 per day – the equivalent of just over three quarters of Adult Social Care & older people.

11

10

4

17

116

52

19

59

TOTAL£1,079,000

In £000’s

Communities

Council education functions and youth services

Public transport

Parks & open spaces

Culture, Leisure & tourism

Council tax, business rates & benefits

Libraries

Adult Social Care & older people

Street cleaning, waste collection & disposal

Children’s Social Care

Road maintenance & street lighting

Supporting businesses & creating jobs

Public health

Corporate services

18

* Excludes costs funded by Housing Benefit Grant and expenditure incurred by Parish Councils and schools.

Treasury management &

pensions

Environmental & building services

Appeals against your property band

Contact the Valuation Office within six months of becoming the taxpayer if you think your property band is wrong. The property band can only be changed for specific reasons, for example if you have bought a property and the Council Tax has increased because previous building work has put it into a higher band, or if part of the property has been demolished. Beware of telephone calls from people claiming to be from the council offering substantial refunds in return for an administration fee because your property is in the wrong band. Never give out your personal information in such situations.

Appeals regarding discounts, exemptions and the name of the taxpayer

If your application for a discount, exemption or disabled person’s reduction has been turned down, or if the bill is in your name, you are not the owner or resident of the property and a request to change the Council Tax records has been refused you should appeal directly to the Council Tax Office. Your appeal will be dealt with inside two months. If your appeal is unsuccessful you can then appeal to the Valuation Tribunal. You must still pay Council Tax while any appeal is outstanding.

To tell us you’ve moved or to make an appeal, go to www.doncaster.gov.uk/counciltax

Your Council Tax bill

How much you pay depends on the Value of your property on 1 April 1991, the number of adults living at your address, and the circumstances of those adults. The Valuation Office, part of HM Revenues and Customs, values all properties. Properties are placed in one of eight bands from A – up to £40,000 (in 1991) to H - over £320,000 (in 1991). Bands can increase when a property is sold if significant building improvements have been made. To find Council Tax charges and bands, go to www.doncaster.gov.uk/counciltax

Changes in your circumstances

If you move house, or there are any other change in your circumstances, which may affect the amount of Council Tax you pay, you must let the Council Tax Office know immediately. If you receive a reduction because of a discount, disabled persons reduction or exemption, and you are no longer entitled to it you must notify the Council Tax Office within 21 days. If you do not you may incur a penalty. A penalty may also apply if you knowingly provide false information.

What if I think my Council Tax is wrong?

If you think a mistake has been made, first contact the Council Tax Office and provide the information needed for it to be rectified; a formal appeal may not be necessary.

Information can be made available in other formats such as Braille or audio tape on request. If you know someone who may need this service, please contact a member of staff for more information or if you need any other help or advice.

Completion notice appealsAppeals should be made direct to the Valuation Tribunal, however before making an appeal you should contact the Council Tax Office regarding the date given.

If there are significant reasons why the date cannot be met, it may be renegotiated in certain circumstances, without needing to make a formal appeal.

To dispute a completion date, go to www.doncaster.gov.uk/counciltax

If you think your Rateable Value is wrong Contact the South Yorkshire Valuation Office (Business Rates only).

South Yorkshire Valuation Office 03000 [email protected]

Valuation Tribunal 0300 123 [email protected]

Council Tax Levels 2017/2018Area Parish

Precepts £Band

ABand

BBand

CBand

DBand

EBand

FBand

GBand

H

Doncaster (except where specified below) 976.61 1,139.39 1,302.16 1,464.93 1,790.47 2,116.01 2,441.54 2,929.86

Adwick on Dearne 3,926.00 999.57 1,166.18 1,332.77 1,499.37 1,832.56 2,165.76 2,498.94 2,998.74

Armthorpe 207,020.00 1,013.28 1,182.17 1,351.05 1,519.93 1,857.69 2,195.45 2,533.21 3,039.86

Askern 87,195.00 1,024.65 1,195.44 1,366.21 1,536.99 1,878.54 2,220.10 2,561.64 3,073.98

Auckley 35,023.00 993.06 1,158.59 1,324.10 1,489.61 1,820.63 2,151.66 2,482.67 2,979.22

Austerfield 8,480.00 1,002.78 1,169.93 1,337.06 1,504.19 1,838.45 2,172.72 2,506.97 3,008.38

Barnburgh and Harlington 28,119.00 1,006.08 1,173.78 1,341.46 1,509.14 1,844.50 2,179.87 2,515.22 3,018.28

Barnby Dun with Kirk Sandall 88,201.00 998.90 1,165.39 1,331.88 1,498.36 1,831.33 2,164.30 2,497.26 2,996.72

Bawtry 27,061.00 990.36 1,155.44 1,320.50 1,485.56 1,815.68 2,145.81 2,475.92 2,971.12

Blaxton 23,351.00 1,013.32 1,182.22 1,351.11 1,520.00 1,857.78 2,195.56 2,533.32 3,040.00

Braithwell with Micklebring 5,057.00 984.29 1,148.35 1,312.40 1,476.45 1,804.55 2,132.65 2,460.74 2,952.90

Brodsworth 29,518.00 1,002.54 1,169.64 1,336.73 1,503.82 1,838.00 2,172.18 2,506.36 3,007.64

Burghwallis 5,424.00 1,003.40 1,170.64 1,337.88 1,505.11 1,839.58 2,174.05 2,508.51 3,010.22

Cadeby 0.00 976.61 1,139.39 1,302.16 1,464.93 1,790.47 2,116.01 2,441.54 2,929.86

Cantley with Branton 31,507.00 994.84 1,160.66 1,326.47 1,492.28 1,823.90 2,155.52 2,487.12 2,984.56

Clayton with Frickley 4,385.00 1,008.74 1,176.87 1,345.00 1,513.12 1,849.37 2,185.62 2,521.86 3,026.24

Conisbrough Parks 3,894.00 998.42 1,164.84 1,331.24 1,497.65 1,830.46 2,163.27 2,496.07 2,995.30

Denaby 1,605.00 985.10 1,149.30 1,313.48 1,477.67 1,806.04 2,134.41 2,462.77 2,955.34

Edenthorpe 38,823.00 994.62 1,160.41 1,326.18 1,491.95 1,823.49 2,155.04 2,486.57 2,983.90

Edlington 111,350.00 1,020.18 1,190.22 1,360.25 1,530.28 1,870.34 2,210.40 2,550.46 3,060.56

Finningley 24,525.00 1,001.16 1,168.03 1,334.89 1,501.75 1,835.47 2,169.19 2,502.91 3,003.50

Fishlake 33,692.00 1,067.54 1,245.48 1,423.40 1,601.33 1,957.18 2,313.03 2,668.87 3,202.66

Hampole and Skelbrooke 373.00 979.57 1,142.84 1,306.11 1,469.37 1,795.90 2,122.42 2,448.94 2,938.74

Hatfield 183,211.00 1,007.13 1,175.00 1,342.85 1,510.71 1,846.42 2,182.14 2,517.84 3,021.42

Hickleton 5,804.00 1,012.77 1,181.58 1,350.37 1,519.17 1,856.76 2,194.36 2,531.94 3,038.34

High Melton 2,461.00 991.94 1,157.28 1,322.60 1,487.93 1,818.58 2,149.23 2,479.87 2,975.86

Hooton Pagnell 3,765.00 1,002.76 1,169.89 1,337.02 1,504.15 1,838.41 2,172.66 2,506.91 3,008.30

Loversall 1,142.00 989.74 1,154.70 1,319.66 1,484.62 1,814.54 2,144.45 2,474.36 2,969.24

Moss and District 5,964.00 990.00 1,155.01 1,320.01 1,485.01 1,815.01 2,145.01 2,475.01 2,970.02

Norton 52,294.00 1,002.36 1,169.43 1,336.49 1,503.55 1,837.67 2,171.79 2,505.91 3,007.10

Owston 800.00 985.08 1,149.27 1,313.45 1,477.63 1,805.99 2,134.35 2,462.71 2,955.26

Rossington 170,644.00 1,011.21 1,179.76 1,348.29 1,516.83 1,853.90 2,190.98 2,528.04 3,033.66

Sprotbrough and Cusworth 170,729.00 1,006.28 1,174.01 1,341.72 1,509.44 1,844.87 2,180.30 2,515.72 3,018.88

Stainforth 136,080.00 1,048.55 1,223.32 1,398.08 1,572.84 1,922.36 2,271.88 2,621.39 3,145.68

Stainton 2,526.00 991.26 1,156.48 1,321.69 1,486.90 1,817.32 2,147.74 2,478.16 2,973.80

Sykehouse 7,400.00 1,002.85 1,170.00 1,337.15 1,504.29 1,838.58 2,172.86 2,507.14 3,008.58

Thorne – Moorends 367,855.00 1,036.97 1,209.81 1,382.64 1,555.47 1,901.13 2,246.79 2,592.44 3,110.94

Thorpe in Balne 1,458.00 989.74 1,154.71 1,319.67 1,484.63 1,814.55 2,144.47 2,474.37 2,969.26

Tickhill 41,951.00 990.06 1,155.09 1,320.10 1,485.11 1,815.13 2,145.16 2,475.17 2,970.22

Wadworth 16,000.00 1,004.90 1,172.40 1,339.88 1,507.37 1,842.34 2,177.31 2,512.27 3,014.74

Warmsworth 47,958.00 1,005.06 1,172.58 1,340.09 1,507.60 1,842.62 2,177.64 2,512.66 3,015.20

Budget information

Council Tax Increases and Referendum limits

Doncaster Council has increased its Council Tax by 3.99% for 2017/18.The increase is made up of 2 elements, a core Council Tax increase of 1.99% as set out in the 2017/18 Revenue Budget Report and The Adult Social Care Precept of 2%. The Adult Social Care Precept is further explained below. Any increase of 2% or over in 2017/18 in the core amount of Council Tax would trigger a local referendum. Any other differences to your Council Tax compared to last year will be because of a change to Fire and Police and Crime Commissioner Precepts, your Parish Precept, or as a result of Government changes to the way in which the Tax Base must be calculated each year. The Tax Base is the equivalent number of band D properties across Doncaster as a whole, and is used when calculating final Council Tax charges. The precentage increases shown on Council Tax bills must be shown to one decimal place, meaning any amounts of 3.95% and over will be shown as 4%

Joint Authorities

The South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority has set an increase of 1.97%. Any increase of 2% or over in 2017/18 in The Fire and Rescue Authority precept would trigger a local referendum. The South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner has set an increase of 3.27%, which, although more than the general 2% referendum limit, will not trigger a referendum because the Government has made an exception for Police and Crime Commissioners who fall within the level of the lowest 25% of Council Taxes. The South Yorkshire Police & Crime Commissioner qualifies under this rule.

Adult Social Care Precept

The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has made an offer toAdult Social Care Authorities. (‘Adult Social Care Authorities’ are Local Authorities which have functions under Part 1 of The Care Act 2014, namely, County Councils in England, District Councils for an area in England for which there is no County Council , London Borough Councils ,The Common Council of the City Of London and the Council of the Isles of Scilly.) The offer is the option of an Adult Social Care Authority being able to charge an additional “precept” on its Council Tax for financial years from the financial year beginning in 2016 without holding a referendum, to assist the authority in meeting expenditure on Adult Social Care. Subject to the annual approval of the House of Commons, the Secretary of State intends to offer the option of charging this “precept” at an appropriate level in each financial year up to and including the financial year 2019-20. In the 2016 Autumn Statement, Chancellor Philip Hammond announced that from April 2017 the Adult Social Care Precept could increase by up to 3% per annum without triggering a referendum, provided the total increase over the next 3 financial years does not exceed 6% in total. The 2% increase in Doncaster for 2017/18 equates to additional income of £1.89m for the Council. This will contribute towards the pressures for Adults, Health & Wellbeing including pay and price inflation £2.6m, investment in the care ladder and growth in the number of clients from projected changes in the population.

Central Government Funding (in £millions)

2013/14

191.

5

2016/17 2019/20 2020/21

112.

0

2014/15 2017/18

171.

6

2015/16 2018/19

146.

4

BUDGET DONCASTER 2017How central government funding to the council is reducing

Figures show the cuts to funding since 2010/11 through to 2020/21*. We estimate that our funding will have been cut by 58% over this period. Grey bars show funding we no longer get

131.

9

125.

1

122.

0

118.

6

2011/12

217.

0

2010/11

269.

8

2012/13

202.

8

Excludes expediture incurred by Parish Councils and Schools


2013/14

191.

5

2016/17 2019/20 2020/21

112.

0

2014/15 2017/18

171.

6

2015/16 2018/19

146.

4



131.

9

125.

1

122.

0

118.

6

2011/12

217.

0

2010/11

269.

8

2012/13

202.

8



2013/14

191.

5

2016/17 2019/20 2020/21

112.

0

2014/15 2017/18

171.

6

2015/16 2018/19

146.

4



131.

9

125.

1

122.

0

118.

6

2011/12

217.

0

2010/11

269.

8

2012/13

202.

8



2013/14

191.

5

2016/17 2019/20 2020/21

112.

0

2014/15 2017/18

171.

6

2015/16 2018/19

146.

4



131.

9

125.

1

122.

0

118.

6

2011/12

217.

0

2010/11

269.

8

2012/13

202.

8


1 Adults Health and Wellbeing

£141.52 Learning and

Opportunities inc. Children’s Services Trust

£81.83 Finance & Corporate Services £31.3

4 Regeneration & Environment £92.55 Council Wide £46.66 Housing Benefits £85.9

Where the money comes from (£m)

A Council Tax requirement for Council services

B Collection Fund SurplusC Revenue Support Grant & Top Up GrantD Retained Business Rates

E Other Government Grants inc. Housing Benefits

F Other Income & Customer and Client Contributions

G Use of Reserves

Where the money goes (£m)

A £97.9B £2.5C £69

D £44.1E £156.9F £107.2G £2

A £91.7B £2.8C £75.2

D £47.4E £164.9F £107.6

2016/17 Total £489.6m2017/18 Total £479.6m

A

D

E

F


2017 2016

Where the money goes

2017 2016


2017 2016


1

2

34

6

5

A AB B

C C

D D

E E

F F

G

Where the Band A Council Tax and other Council income goes. Please remember that Council Tax only funds 21% of our expenditure*

Based on a Band A property for 2017/18. The total figure does not include the money you pay to support the Police and Fire Services.

TOTAL£825.20

BUDGET DONCASTER 2017

£88

£40

£15

£45

Communities


Public transport

£7

£3

£13

Parks & open spaces


Libraries

£118

£40

£259




£5

£51

£57


Public health

£14

* Excludes costs funded by Housing Benefit Grant and expenditure incurred by Parish Coucils and schools.

£60

£9



Corporate services


pensions


Reduction in Gross Expenditure for Council Services -9,491

Reduction in Gross Expenditure for Levying Bodies -491

Total Reduction in Gross Expenditure -9,982

Represented by

Reduction in Grant Funding & Other Income 15,857

Increase in Council Tax requirement -5,875

Total Reduction in Gross Income 9,982

Per band D Property the change equals 47.49

The impact of Gross Expenditure on Council Tax (£000)

• Gross Expenditure is spending incurred by the council prior to any income being taken into account.

• Levying Bodies charge the council for the provision of services and these include the provision of public transport by the South Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority.

2016/17 2017/18

Gross Expenditure

(£000)

GrossIncome(£000)

Net Expenditure

(£000)

Gross Expenditure

(£000)

GrossIncome(£000)

NetExpenditure

(£000)

476,049 107,552 368,497 Council Services 466,558 107,246 359,312

13,476 13,476 SY Integrated Transport 12,977 12,977

114 114 Environment Agency 122 122

489,639 107,552 382,087 Total 479,657 107,246 372,410

553 196 357 Thorne - Moorends Town Council 569 201 368

226 52 174 Hatfield Town Council 252 69 183

310 109 201 Armthorpe 384 177 207

175 8 167 Sprotborough & Cusworth 179 8 171

188 19 169 Rossington 188 17 171

Spending plans 2016/17 – 2017/18


Where the Band A Council Tax and other Council income goes. Please remember that Council Tax only funds 21% of our expenditure*

Based on a Band A property for 2017/18. The total figure does not include the money you pay to support the Police and Fire Services.

TOTAL£825.20

BUDGET DONCASTER 2017

£88

£40

£15

£45

Communities


Public transport

£7

£3

£13

Parks & open spaces


Libraries

£118

£40

£259




£5

£51

£57


Public health

£14

* Excludes costs funded by Housing Benefit Grant and expenditure incurred by Parish Coucils and schools.

£60

£9



Corporate services


pensions


Ways to reduce your bill

Local Council Tax Support

If you are on a low income, you may be entitled to Local Council Tax Support. Local Council Tax Support is based on your income, savings and other capital you have, and who lives with you. We can also check whether you are entitled to Housing Benefit to help with your rent whether you rent your home from the council or a private landlord. For further information about Housing Benefit and Local Council Tax Support and to make a claim on line, visit www.doncaster.gov.uk/counciltaxsupport

If you think your Council Tax Support is wrong you should contact Benefits in the first instance. A formal right of appeal exists direct to the Valuation Tribunal. Further information can be found at www.doncaster.gov.uk/counciltaxsupport

Discounts

Single Occupier DiscountIf you are the only adult living in your property you could get a 25% discount. This depends on who uses your property as their main address even if they don’t spend all of their time there. For example, partners who have moved away for employment reasons only, may still be classed as having their main home in Doncaster. If you suspect that someone is claiming a discount and they shouldn’t be you can contact the council in confidence

Single occupier discount reviewDoncaster households are being urged to tell The Council if they are claiming

Council Tax discounts they are not entitled to. The Council have launched a new rolling review of single occupier discounts in a bid to ensure only those entitled receive a discount. The review will be done by comparing its Council Tax information with other databases to identify those cases where more than one adult is living at an address and a discount is still being claimed.

Steve Mawson the Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Director of Finance said:“We believe most Council Tax discounts are claimed honestly and legitimately, but we know there are times where a household’s circumstances change and people forget to tell us their eligibility to a discount should be ended. We are obliged to amend any records we find to be incorrect, back to the date of the change. This means that households do not benefit from withholding information from us, and it makes the system fairer for everyone.” If you receive a discount you think you should not receive, this is your final chance to tell us, before we contact you.

Households can contact Revenues by:• Using an online form,• E-mail: [email protected], or

• Visiting the Council offices at Civic Office, Waterdale, Doncaster DN1 3BU.

Please make sure you return your review letter as failure to do so will result in your discount being cancelled.

Other DiscountsSome adults don’t count for Council Tax purposes even though they live at the address – some examples are full time students, people in residential care, and some carers. A 25% discount can be given if only one adult at an address counts. In certain circumstances a 50% discount can be given if no adults count. From 1st April 2014, you may be entitled to a 50% discount if you have an annexe to your main home which has been separately banded for Council Tax, but which is either used by you or certain members of your family as their main home.

Exemptions

In certain circumstances and for a set period of time, you may not have to pay Council Tax at all. For example if the property is unoccupied and the owner has lived in a residential care home since leaving.

Disabilities

If a disabled person lives in your property (adult or child), they use a wheelchair indoors, or the property has been adapted in a specific way, e.g. if a room has been taken out of household use for the disabled person, then a reduction equivalent to moving into a lower property band may be given.

You need to make an application for all of the above.

If you need further information or full list of all discount or exemption groups please visit www.doncaster.gov.uk/counciltax

Ways to Pay

Customers have a huge range of choice in how to pay. All options can be seen with your Council Tax bill. Direct Debit is the Council’s preferred payment option as it is cheaper to administer. The easiest way to set up a Direct Debit is using our on line form. Please go to www.doncaster.gov.uk/howtopay for other options go to www.doncaster.gov.uk/counciltax

Please note if you have arrears including court costs you will need to contact us.

Are you having difficulty paying?

Doncaster Council has a legal obligation to ensure payments are paid on time, it also recognises however, that many taxpayers are facing difficulty in the current economic climate. Council Tax is a priority debt. Follow the advice below if you are facing difficulty this year:1. Seek advice on claiming all available

discounts and benefit2. Get advice early, don’t wait for a

reminder or summons3. Spread the cost over 12 months,

April to March 4. Ask about special payment

arrangements 5. When asked, provide information

about your income, household expenditure and employment

6. Renegotiate instalments on arrears to keep your current year up to date

7. Seek Free, Impartial Debt Advice from National Debt Line. Go to www.nationaldebtline.org or call Freephone on 0808 808 4000 and via email at www.nationaldebtline.org and click Email us for Advice.

In addition the Citizens Advice Bureau

also offers free advice atwww.adviceguide.org.uk

What if I don’t pay?

Doncaster Council will always work with those people who are facing financial difficulty however those that refuse to pay will be pursued vigorously. Please be aware that if you don’t pay in line with the bill you have been sent, the following will occur:1. A reminder will be sent asking you to

bring your account up to date2. If you do not pay as instructed a

Summons will be sent to you. This will add £48 costs to your account.

3. A Liability Order would then be obtained which allows Doncaster Council to take further action to recover the unpaid amount. This will also add £26.00 costs to your account.

4. Further action can include the use of an Enforcement Agent who can remove goods from your property, an attachment of earnings and certain benefits, a charging order, bankruptcy and ultimately committal to prison in certain circumstances.

5. If it becomes necessary to pass your account to an Enforcement Agent for further action, the following costs would be added to your account. It is therefore in your interests to make contact as early as possible:

• Notice of Enforcement (instruction to take action) £75.00 per Liability Order

• First visit by an Enforcement Agent – fixed fee of £235.00 plus 7.5% of any balance owed over £1,500.00

• Sale and removal of goods - fixed fee of £110.00 plus 7.5% of any balance owed over £1,500.00 plus reasonable storage and auctioneers fees.

Refusing to pay?

The billing and collection of Council Tax is covered by legislation set by the Government. Any avoidance tactics used to avoid payment of Council Tax will be tackled by Doncaster Council and will have repercussions for the individual concerned. Ultimately you can be sent to prison for refusing or knowingly avoiding payment and Doncaster Council will not hesitate to use such powers where it is absolutely necessary. Providing false information to avoid Council Tax registration and payment will also be dealt with seriously and action to prosecute individuals concerned will be taken.

Empty Properties

Charges Doncaster Council will continue to charge 100% Council Tax for empty properties and second homes in 2017/18. Properties that have remained empty for 2 years will be charged 150% in accordance with legislation that was introduced in April 2013.

This is in line with a continued need to maximise revenue because of Government Funding cuts in order to protect essential services and vulnerable residents as well as the need to encourage empty homes back into use.

These charges do not apply to empty

properties that are covered by other statutory exemptions such as where an older person has left their property empty and is now living in a care home. For details of other exemptions please visit www.doncaster.gov.uk/counciltax

Information for Landlords and Managing Agents If you let your property it is important that you tell the Council Tax Office straight away, providing the names of the tenants and their previous addresses.

If information is received late and incomplete, then the owner of the property may be charged 100% Council Tax for the period the property was occupied, unless substantial evidence can be provided which confirms the existence of the occupiers.

In such cases the production of a tenancy agreement which covers a period in the past might not be enough and further information may be needed.

If the property is let to several individuals the owner may still be responsible for Council Tax even if all people are shown as joint tenants on the agreement. Where the situation is unclear further checks will be used, for example, benefit records to ensure occupancy of a property is consistent with Council Tax Information. Contact may also be made with the occupants. There is now an online form specifically for landlords to tell the council that there has been a change in tenancy, please go to www.doncaster.gov.uk/counciltax and click on ‘tell us a tenant has moved’.Empty Homes Grants: for financial

Sharing your information

This authority is under a duty to protect the public funds it administers and to this end may use the information that you provide for the prevention and detection of fraud. It may also share your information with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds for these purposes. This will involve regular data matching exercises.

Data matching is where information held on one computer system is compared electronically with information from one or more other computer systems, for example, we will compare the information from Council Tax and The Electoral Register to identify fraud or error.

Revenues data, which includes Council Tax and Business Rates information, may also be provided to, and used for checks with other council departments where it is needed by them to carry out their functions. For example, data can be used to help identify properties that have been empty for a while to encourage owners to bring them back into use and schools may also check Council Tax records where there are enquiries relating to pupil admissions. Customer names and contact addresses are also being held by Doncaster Council

for the introduction of a single customer account. This will benefit residents in the future by reducing the number of times a customer needs to notify the council of a change.

Revenues data may also be shared with other organisations where the Data Protection Act 1998 allows this to happen. For example, information may be shared with the Police, or HM Revenues and Customs if it is needed to prevent or detect a criminal offence, or carry out a prosecution or to assess or collect any tax or duty.

Doncaster Council will also use Credit Reference Agencies to carry out data matching to identify potential fraud.

assistance to bring an empty home back into use or to report a problematic empty property please contact the Empty Homes Team on: 01302 736922

Doncaster Council’s pay policy statement

The council is required under section 38(1) of the Localism Act 2011 to prepare an annual Pay Policy Statement. The statement must clearly detail the council’s policy for the pay of the workforce, particularly senior staff and lowest paid employees. There has been a reduction in the ratios this year between the highest and lowest paid staff (the ratio being how many times greater the highest salary is compared to the lowest salary) from 9.36 times to 9.14 times; and the ratio between the highest salary and average salary has also reduced from 6.64 times to 6.24 times due to an increase in the average salary. Both ratios reflect the council’s commitment to reduce the pay difference and address low pay.

Contact information

Council TaxWeb:www.doncaster.gov.uk/counciltax Email:[email protected]

Local Council Tax Support and Housing BenefitWeb:www.doncaster.gov.uk/sections/advicebenefitsandcounciltax/housingbenefitandcounciltaxbenefitEmail:[email protected]

To make a paymentAutomated Payment Line0845 130 5910 Customer ServicesWeb:www.doncaster.gov.uk Email: [email protected]

*Excludes expenditure incurred by Parish Councils and Schools** Other income includes Customer and Client Contributions and funding from the NHS and other external organisations

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COUNCIL TAX

£100m21%

RETAINEDBUSINESS

RATES£44m9%

GENERALRESERVES

£2m1%

TOTAL INCOME £479m100%

OTHERINCOME**

£107m22%

GOVERNMENTFUNDING£226m47%

BUDGET DONCASTER 2017How is your council funded?*

Don’t wait in line…… Get online

A full range of on line services is now available for Council Tax and not only can you view your account 24/7 , you can now apply for discounts, exemptions and reductions , change your payment date, submit an appeal , provide income and expenditure details and much more without having to pick up a telephone. Go to www.doncaster.gov.uk/counciltax where you can now do all of the following. In some instances you will be prompted to create a My Doncaster Account in the first instance if you have not already registered. • View Your Council Tax Account. This

will show you what you have been charged and from when, any discounts or reductions that you are entitled to, what and when you are expected to pay, and a list of the payments that you have made. If you have a question about your Council Tax Bill your on line account may provide the answer for you without having to speak to someone.

• Sign up for E-Billing • Make a Payment • Apply To Pay by Direct Debit. • Change your method of payment or

payment date • Tell us you have moved address • Please have as much information as

possible before completing the form including dates, address and details of any new occupiers, purchasers or vendors where available.

• Tell us a Tennant has moved • Apply for a Discount or Exemption • Respond to The Single Occupier

Discount Review

• Report a missing payment • Find Council Tax Bands and Charges • Request a Copy of Your bill • Make A Council Tax Appeal • Dispute a Completion Notice • Submit Income and Expenditure details in support of a payment arrangement • Apply for Local Council Tax Support if

you are on a low income

Homemovers

Don’t forget your furniture, your pets… or your right to vote!

If you’ve just moved house, you will need to register to vote again. It’s incredibly important that you do, otherwise you may not be able to vote. Now that you’ve installed your fridge and updated your Council Tax, take a few minutes to update the Electoral Register at your new address to make sure you don’t miss out. Then you can get back to unpacking all those boxes.

Update your details by visiting www.gov.uk/registertovote it only takes 3 minutes. Make sure you include your previous address when completing the online form so you can be removed from the register at your old address.

Council Tax leaflet 2017-18 - Windows · PDF fileCOUNCIL TAX 2017/18 Introduction to Council...

Documents

Transcript of Council Tax leaflet 2017-18 - Windows · PDF fileCOUNCIL TAX 2017/18 Introduction to Council...