Agenda item

Council assembly is asked to note the decision of its November 2012 meeting in relation to discretionary discounts for long term empty properties and the discounts for exempt properties.  It is also being asked to set the council tax base for 2013/14 and approve the council tax reduction scheme written policy for both working and pensionable age claimants.

(See pages 58 – 77 of supplemental agenda 1 and pages 1 – 222 of supplemental agenda 2)

This report was considered after the guillotine had fallen, therefore in accordance with council assembly procedure rule 1.12 (3) & (4), the report was afforded up to a maximum of 15 minutes.

Following debate (Councillors Richard Livingstone, Anood Al-Samerai and Toby Eckersley), the recommendations contained within the report were put to the vote and declared to be carried.

RESOLVED:

1.  That in accordance with the decisions of council assembly about council tax on 28 November 2012, the following be noted:

·  the local discretionary discount for homes counted as long-term empty (over 2 years) will be set at 150%

·  the discount/exemption for empty property the discount for second homes be set at 0%

·  the discount to replace Class A exemptions will be set at 0%

·  the discount to replace Class C exemptions will be set at 100% for a maximum of two months only.

2.  That the council tax base for 2013/14 be set at 81,421.05 band D equivalent dwellings, as shown in paragraph 37 of the report.

3.  That the assumed council tax collection level remains at 96.25%, noting the risks outlined in paragraph 30 of the report..

4.  That the council tax base for 2013/14 for St. Mary Newington be set at 12,487.57 band D equivalent dwellings.

5.  That the council tax base for 2013/14 for St. Saviour’s be set at 1,175.02 band D equivalent dwellings.

6.  That the net rate yield for national non domestic rates be set at £190,585,401 as shown in paragraph 47 of the report.

7.  That the council tax reduction scheme (CTRS) written policy for both working and pensionable age claimants (see Appendix E of the report) be agreed; and the reduction in tax base of 21,215 band D equivalent properties as shown in paragraph 52 of the report be noted.

8.  That any minor and consequential amendments to the council tax reduction scheme written policy be delegated to the strategic director of finance and corporate services, in consultation with the monitoring officer.