servicesSwale Borough CouncilYour

2013/14

Kent Police& Crime Commissioner

How your Council Tax helps pay

for the services we provide

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Swale Borough Council

About your Council Tax

Swale Borough Council, Kent County Council, Kent Police & Crime Commissioner and Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Authority together deliver most of the local services in your area. If you live in an area with a parish/town council, it too provides some local services. This leafl et provides information from each of these authorities.

The Council Tax you pay is collected by Swale Borough Council on behalf of all the above authorities. The total amount is then divided between these authorities (see table on page 7).

Kent Police& Crime Commissioner

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Your Council Tax 2013/14

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Calculation of the Council Tax

Despite further reductions in Central Government funding for the third year running, the Council has been able to balance its budget without any increase in Council Tax. The Council has balanced its budget by making a further £566,000 of effi ciency and contract savings, all without any impact on front line services to the public.

Swale Borough Council’s pages within this booklet are available on the council’s website www.swale.gov.uk. The site also contains additional information on the 2013/14 budget and Council Tax. If you would like more copies or alternative versions of this booklet (i.e. large print, audio, different language) we will do our best to accommodate your request. Please contact Customer Services on 01795 417 850 or email csc@swale.gov.uk.

The Council Tax, which is primarily a property based tax, was introduced in April 1993. For the fi nancial year 2013/14, the basic Council Tax for the average Band D property is calculated as follows:

2012/13£

2013/14£

Swale Borough Council Net Expenditure (Budget Requirement) 16,187,780 14,429,058

Less: Formula Grant Council Tax Surplus

-8,408,506-38,490

-7,835,910-

Amount to be met by the Council Tax for Swale 7,740,784 6,593,148

This amount is then divided by the Tax Base* for Swale which is 48,401.04 41,225.21

Giving a Swale Council Tax for a Band D property of 159.93 159.93

To which is added Kent County Council Tax of Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Tax of Kent & Medway Fire & Rescue Authority Tax of

1,047.78138.6867.95

1,047.78141.4767.95

Giving a total Council Tax for a Band D property of 1,414.34 1,417.13

*The Tax Base is the equivalent number of Band D Properties in the area after allowing for the relative proportions payable by all other bands and the fact that some of those properties may pay a reduced amount because of discounts.

f

T£

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Swale Borough Council

Your Council Tax BillValuation bands

Most homes whether rented or owned have to pay Council Tax. The Valuation Office Agency has placed every property into one of eight valuation bands according to its estimated open market capital value on 1 April 1991.

Valuation Band range of values

A Up to £40,000B £40,001 - £52,000C £52,001 - £68,000D £68,001 - £88,000E £88,001 - £120,000F £120,001 - £160,000G £160,001 - £320,000H More than £320,000

If you think that your property band is wrong, you need to contact the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) and ask to have your band reviewed. Your local office can be contacted via www.voa.gov.uk or email ctsouth@voa.gsi.gov.uk or on 03000 501501.

Empty Properties

If your home is empty, for a period of up to 3 months you may be able to claim a discount. For more information contact Council Tax at www.swale.gov.uk or on 01795 417272.

DiscountsIf only one adultover the age of 18lives in a property as their main home, the Council Tax bill can be reduced by 25%. Some people do not count towards the number of adults resident in a property including people who are:

• Full time students/student nurses• In hospital or care homes• Severely mentally impaired• Detained in prison

Disabled Person ReliefIf you or someone who lives with you has a disability, you may be entitled to a reduction. For more information please contact the Council Tax team on 01795 417272 or look on the Council’s website www.swale.gov.uk.

Exemptions Any property that falls within one of the following classes will be exempt from Council Tax:

A

Vacant and unfurnished for up to 12 months. Property which requires structural alterationor major repair

B Vacant up to 6 months and owned by a charity

DProperty left empty bysomeone who has been detained in prison

EProperty left empty bysomeone who has movedinto a care home or hospital

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F

Property left empty by the estate of a deceased personfor up to six months aftergrant of probate

G Occupation is prohibited by law

H Vacant and being held available for a Minister of Religion

IProperty left empty by someone who has moved elsewhere to receive personal care

JProperty left empty by someone who has moved elsewhere to provide personal care

K Vacant but previously occupied by students

L Vacant where mortgagee is in possession

M Student Halls of Residence

N Property occupied solely by students

OProperties owned by Secretary of State for Defence - armed forces accommodation

P Properties occupied by members of Visiting Forces

Q Property where liable person is a trustee in bankruptcy

R Vacant pitch or mooringS Property occupied by under 18s

TVacant annexe that cannot be let separately without breaching planning conditions

U Occupied solely by the severely mentally impaired

V Occupied by a Diplomat, who is not a British Citizen

WSeparately banded annexe occupied by a dependant relative

Due to changesin Council Taxlegislation the ClassC (unoccupied and substantially unfurnished) exemption and the long-term empty and second home discounts will be removed from 31 March 2013. For full details of all discounts and exemptions now available (and the qualifying conditions) please contact the Council Tax team or look on the Exemptions and Discounts page.

AppealsIf you do not think that you should be billed for Council Tax, or the Council has made a mistake in calculating your bill or your Council Tax Support, you can appeal. Appeals should initially be made in writing to the Council. The Council will look at your appeal first and try to resolve any issues. If you are not happy with our decision, we will provide you with details of how to appeal to the Valuation Tribunal Service who are independent from the Council. You should keep paying your bill even if you have appealed.

Council Tax Support

From 1st April 2013 Council Tax Benefit will be replaced by a new localised scheme called Council Tax Support. For further information on Council Tax Support please view our Council Tax Support page. If you are on a low income or living

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with other adults on a low income, you may beentitled to some help to pay your Council Tax.To find out if you are entitled to Council Tax Supportcontact our Benefits Team or view our Benefits page.

If you suspect someone is committing benefit fraud, please let us know.You can report a suspected fraud in confidence, by phoning the BenefitFraud Hotline on 01795 417 714 or report it online www.swale.gov.uk

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Your Council Tax 2013/14

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House

Band

Kent

County

Council

£

Swale

Borough

Council

£

Kent Police

& Crime

Commissioner

£

Kent and

Medway Fire

and Rescue

Authority

£

Total

Council Tax

(excluding

parish precepts)

£

A 698.52 106.62 94.31 45.30 944.75

B 814.94 124.39 110.03 52.85 1,102.21

C 931.36 142.16 125.75 60.40 1,259.67

D 1,047.78 159.93 141.47 67.95 1,417.13

E 1,280.62 195.47 172.91 83.05 1,732.05

F 1,513.46 231.01 204.35 98.15 2,046.97

G 1,746.30 266.55 235.78 113.25 2,361.88

H 2,095.56 319.86 282.94 135.90 2,834.26

Expenditure 2013/14Gross

Expenditure

2013/14

£000

Net

Expenditure

2013/14

£000

Gross

Expenditure

2012/13

£000

Net

Expenditure

2012/13

£000Corporate & Democratic Services 3,211 2,332 3,496 2,644Local tax collection, Elections,Land Charges etc

13,396 1,014 13,598 1,176

Cultural, Environmental & Planning Services 16,896 13,733 15,803 12,684Highways, Roads & Transportation Services 1,415 -805 1,361 -680Housing Services 55,153 2,019 55,115 1,684Other Services 11,163 -3,862 12,130 -860Total Expenditure 101,234 14,431 101,503 16,648Contributions to/(from) funds -2 -460Formula Grant -7,836 -8,447Council Tax Requirement 6,593 7,741

Joint Council Tax Breakdown

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Swale Borough Council

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Statement of ParishPrecepts for 2013/14Parish/Town Council Parish

Precept 2012/13

Parish Precept 2013/14

2013/14Tax Base

Parish Band D Council

Tax £

Bapchild 7,000 7,196 445.61 16.15Bobbing 10,500 11,250 684.01 16.45Borden 38,026 42,251 995.76 42.43Boughton-under-Blean 43,088 37,400 647.27 57.78Bredgar 9,000 8,109 272.68 29.74Doddington 6,750 6,750 209.32 32.25Dunkirk 12,125 11,346 448.49 25.30Eastchurch 23,700 21,911 640.83 34.19Eastling 2,686 2,385 142.96 16.68Faversham Town Council 197,382 174,360 5804.63 30.04Goodnestone & Graveney 5,848 5,328 175.31 30.39Hartlip 5,000 4,779 352.79 13.55Hernhill 6,500 8,000 276.81 28.90Iwade 29,500 29,875 1046.38 28.55Leysdown 25,500 25,716 1076.77 23.88Lower Halstow 19,233 17,651 428.94 41.15Lynsted 13,049 11,574 430.79 26.87Milstead 2,000 1,873 86.47 21.66Minster 105,431 90,132 4634.01 19.45Newington 33,486 33,438 835.34 40.03Newnham 1,500 2,729 153.13 17.82Norton & Buckland 5,089 5,014 176.21 28.45Oare 8,400 7,185 162.84 44.12Ospringe 4,500 4,500 268.12 16.78Queenborough Town Council 43,000 44,000 699.08 62.94Rodmersham 5,000 5,693 233.72 24.36Selling 7,660 6,514 321.44 20.27Sheldwich, Leaveland& Badlesmere 8,600 8,136 337.61 24.10

Stalisfield 2,300 2,540 90.09 28.19Teynham 47,980 38,582 796.57 48.44Throwley 3,166 2,910 135.25 21.52Tonge 1,600 1,619 109.84 14.74Tunstall 8,445 8,154 392.00 20.80Upchurch 25,023 23,343 895.42 26.07Warden 16,000 11,836 431.33 27.44

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Contact information

If you have a question about paying your Council Tax bill or claiming Council Tax benefi t, please contact your local council (top left box).

If you have any comments or questions about the information provided, please contact:

Swale Borough Council

Telephone: 01795 417850

Email: csc@swale.gov.uk

Write to:Swale Borough Council,

Swale House, East Street,

Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 3HT

Website: www.swale.gov.uk/your-

services

Kent County Council

Telephone: 08458 247 247

Email: council.tax@kent.gov.uk

Write to:Kent County Council, Room 3.08,

Sessions House, Maidstone,

Kent ME14 1XQ

Website: be www.kent.gov.uk/

counciltax

Kent and Medway

Fire and Rescue Authority

Telephone: 01622 692121

Email: KFRSFinance@kent.fi re-uk.

org

Write to:Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue

Authority Headquarters, Straw Mill

Hill, Tovil, Maidstone, Kent ME15 6XB

Website: www.kent.fi re-uk.org/

default.aspx?page=2736Kent

Kent Police & Crime Commissioner

Telephone: 01622 677055

Email: kpaenquiries@kent.pnn.

police.uk

Write to:Kent Police & Crime Commissioner,

Gail House, First Floor,

Lower Stone Street, Maidstone,

Kent ME15 6NB

Website: www.kent-pcc.gov.uk/

spending

Your Council Tax 2013/14

9 www.swale.gov.uk twitter.com/SwaleCouncil

How to pay • Help and advice • Benefi ts information • Get in touch

and much more from Kent County Council,Swale Borough Council, Kent Police & Crime Commissioner

and Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Authority

Diffi culty in understanding this magazine?Need it in Braille, large print or on audio tape?For translations or interpretations contact us

and we will do our best to help.Tel: 01795 417 850 Email: csc@swale.gov.uk