Disclosure Log

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Question

I am requesting the following information under the Freedom of Information Act: 1. The currently proposed increase (if any) in the council tax rate charged by the council for 2016/17. Please give a total figure and then divide it into (a) non-ringfenced increase and (b) adult care precept (if applicable). So, if the increase is 3.99%, please respond with 3.99% comprising of (a) 1.99% and (b) 2%. In this question, "proposed" includes where a council is consulting on a preferred option, or in the absence of this, where a council has temporarily assumed a certain level of increase (possibly in its Medium Term Financial Plan) prior to a final decision. 2. Please state what level of council tax rate rise (if any) is currently assumed or forecast for (a) 2017/18, (b) 2018/19 and (c) 2019/20 (this may be via the MTFP) 3. In which financial year did the council last increase the council tax rate? Please note that the responses to questions 1 and 2 should be percentage figures, not monetary values. Questions 1-3 only concern the council tax rate charged by the council, not by any other organisations (e.g. other councils, town councils, police and fire authorities etc). Questions 4 and 5 apply to councils in England with responsibility for delivering adult care services: 4. What is the forecast shortfall in the council's 2016/17 adult care services budget, including cost pressures and central government funding cuts, but *prior* to applying any savings proposals, fee increases, and forecast revenue from the council tax adult care precept? 5. How much additional revenue does the council expect to generate through its proposed council tax adult care precept in 2016/17? 6. Has the council been given dispensation by the UK government to increase its council tax rate by more than 2% in 2016/17 without a referendum, by virtue of its pre-existing low council tax rates? 7. On what date is the council cabinet/executive (or equivalent) due to finalise its proposed council tax rate for 2016/17? 8. On what date is the council (presumably via a meeting of full council) due to formally approve its council tax rate for 2016/17? Questions 9-12 apply to English councils with responsibility for Council Tax Support/Reduction schemes: 9. What was the maximum percentage of a working-age Council Tax Support (CTS) claimant's council tax bill that was paid by the council under the council's 2015/16 CTS scheme (excluding specified protected/vulnerable groups)? 10. What is the maximum percentage of a working-age Council Tax Support (CTS) claimant's council tax bill that will be paid by the council under the council's 2016/17 CTS scheme or proposed CTS scheme (excluding specified protected/vulnerable groups)? 11. What other changes (if any) is the council making (or proposing to make) to working-age entitlement under its CTS scheme in 2016/17? (This excludes minor routine alterations that do not affect working-age claimants' entitlement to receive CTS) 12. On what date is the council due to formally approve its CTS scheme for 2016/17 (if not already done so)? Please note that while this request is being sent to all local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales, certain questions will not apply to certain councils.

Answer

1. Council Tax increases are still out to consultation. Final decisions will not be made until the Cabinet of 24th February 2016 where a recommended Council Tax increase will be made to the Council of 2nd March 2016. The current MTFP assumes a 4.5% Council Tax increase but this will probably be reduced when the 2016/17 Council Tax increase is recommended. No specific service element is calculated as the Council Tax levy supports all of the Council’s services and is only one source of income. As such we are unable to provide a specific figure for adult care. 2. Currently 4.5% but as in the response to Q1this will probably reduce and be projected at the same increase as that formally approved for 2016/17. 3. 2015/16 Please note that the responses to questions 1 and 2 should be percentage figures, not monetary values. Questions 1-3 only concern the council tax rate charged by the council, not by any other organisations (e.g. other councils, town councils, police and fire authorities etc.). 6. N/A 7. 24th February 2016 (provisionally) 8. 2nd March 2016 (provisionally)