Your Services, Your Money
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RecyclingYour RefuseCalendar & Stratford-On-Avon District Council 1 & Guide INSIDE Your Services, Your Money How Stratford-on-Avon District Council, Warwickshire County Council and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner spend your money - a guide for residents and business rate payers Published March 2018 So much choice at WCG… School Leaver Courses | Apprenticeships | Higher Education | Leisure and Professional Over 800 courses spanning 28 subject areas, there’s something for everyone at WCG. • A-levels & GCSE • Construction • Horticulture and Floristry • Access to Higher Education • Engineering • Motor Vehicle • Agriculture and Countryside • Equine and Farriery • Music • Animal Welfare and Vet • Event Management • Performance and Production Nursing • Forensic and Medical Science Arts • Art, Design and Media • Hair and Beauty • Sport and Public Services • Business and Professional • Health, Care and Early Years • Supported Learning • Computing and IT www.wcg.ac.uk • 0300 456 0047 ARE YOU AN EMPLOYER? We offer employers a bespoke solution that makes it easy to take on and up-skill apprentices. www.wcg.ac.uk/employers 0300 456 0046 We offer free fitness consultation and personalised training programmes for all our members 01564 794167 • [email protected] • Stratford Road, Henley-in-Arden, B95 6A Welcome 3 Welcome to the joint council tax booklet which sets out how Stratford-on-Avon District Council, Warwickshire County Council and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner spend your money. This booklet has been funded by advertising revenue and is produced at no cost to those involved and So much choice at WCG… no cost to the council tax payer. School Leaver Courses | Apprenticeships | Higher Education | Stratford-on-Avon District Council collects over £96.0m from council tax on behalf of all the authorities shown below. The total amount is then split to provide the services that are part of your everyday life. Leisure and Professional Warwickshire County Council 77.3p Over 800 courses spanning 28 subject areas, there’s something for everyone at WCG. • A-levels & GCSE • Construction • Horticulture and Floristry The Office of the Police and Crime • Access to Higher Education • Engineering • Motor Vehicle Commissioner 11.5p • Agriculture and Countryside • Equine and Farriery • Music • Animal Welfare and Vet • Event Management • Performance and Production Nursing • Forensic and Medical Science Arts Stratford-on-Avon District Council 7.8p • Art, Design and Media • Hair and Beauty • Sport and Public Services • Business and Professional • Health, Care and Early Years • Supported Learning • Computing and IT Parish 3.4p Contents www.wcg.ac.uk • 0300 456 0047 Stratford-on-Avon The Office of the Police 5 District Council 24 and Crime Commissioner Warwickshire 26 NHS Health ARE YOU AN EMPLOYER? 12 County Council information We offer employers a bespoke solution that makes it Refuse & Recycling easy to take on and up-skill apprentices. 21 calendar www.wcg.ac.uk/employers Our Advertisers: We gratefully acknowledge products or services advertised. 0300 456 0046 the support of all the organisations whose advertisements appear in these pages. Printed on environmentally friendly paper Without their help we would not be able to from renewable sources. All information produce this booklet. However Stratford-on- correct at time of printing. We offer free fitness consultation and Avon District Council, Warwickshire County Council, the Office of the Police and Crime Stratford-on-Avon District Council, Elizabeth personalised training programmes Commissioner and NHS South Warwickshire House, Church Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, for all our members CCG can accept no responsibility for their Warwickshire, CV37 6HX. 01564 794167 • [email protected] • If you find the text in this booklet difficult to read we can Stratford Road, Henley-in-Arden, B95 6A supply it in a format better suited to your needs, please contact SDC on 01789 260105. Council Tax Help Are you, or someone in your household, living with: • a degenerative brain disorder • a learning disability such as Alzheimer’s • a severe stroke • other kinds of dementia • severe or chronic mental illness and are entitled to one of the following benefi ts: • Employment Support Allowance • the care component of high • Severe Disablement Allowance or middle rate Disability Living Allowance • increased Disability Pension • Constant Attendance Allowance • Personal Independence Payments (PIP) • Incapacity Bene t • Income Support that includes a disability premium then you may be entitled to a Council Tax discount and save money off your Council Tax bill For more information please contact Revenues on 01789 260990 [email protected] SDC/1737/JAN18 Stratford-On-Avon District Council 5 A message from Councillor Chris Saint Leader, Stratford-on-Avon District Council This budget has been set against a background of predictable revenue streams, set by our four year agreement with the Government, but again we need to pay regards to the longer term scenario to create a sustainable way forward. The District Council has agreed a modest increase in the Council’s share of the council tax to help cover the continuing fall in Government funding given to District Councils. All the services provided by the District Council cost £2.64 a week. Our reserves have been built up over a number of years within our financial strategy and reflect prudent and sound financial management, in anticipation of the challenging times ahead when all future Central Government funding will cease. Reserves represent an accumulation of funds that can only be spent once and following the Peer Review recommendation we will spend some of this improving the services provided by this District Council. The priorities which have been identified by the public from our Citizen’s Panel budget consultation, have been reflected in our budget with increased funding for the prevention of homelessness, future economic development work and additional security measures for public events. There is also budget provision for broadband for hard to reach areas in our district, thanks to an improved final Government settlement and for the celebration of the centenary of WW1. To show cross-party support we are also adopting a Liberal Democrat proposal to help facilitate the Compulsory Purchase Order of Priory Square in Studley if required. The Citizen’s Panel Survey recorded the ‘Value for Money’ index at 88% and the CCTV service continues to be popular and highly regarded amongst residents. The Panel continues to undervalue our services to the local economy and tourism, but we cannot ignore that tourism accounts for a substantial part of local employment. The District Council is also represented on local partnerships to ensure it receives its fair share of any potential Government funding to support future infrastructure projects. This budget represents a responsible way forward without compromising the future income to the Council or putting forward profligate spending plans. Our important services are protected, maintaining the quality expected of us, and our spending is responding to the priorities supported by residents. This budget manages to preserve a justifiable level of reserves while providing the capacity for the Council to undertake both its statutory duties and those it undertakes by virtue of its Corporate Strategy, providing good value for money. 6 Stratford-On-Avon District Council Where Your District Council spends its money 2017/18 2018/19 EXPENDITURE £000’s £000’s Housing Benefit 26,758 26,842 Housing 1,209 1,492 Recreation and Tourism 961 978 Grounds Maintenance 662 688 Parking Off Street 1,200 1,355 Planning 5,078 5,138 Environmental Health 1,595 1,758 Street Cleansing 1,558 1,584 Refuse Collection 3,629 4,107 Council Tax / National Non-Domestic Rates 941 1,089 Council Tax Benefits 552 583 Other Services less charges for use of Land, Buildings and Equipment 3,953 4,324 TOTAL GROSS EXPENDITURE 48,096 49,938 INCOME Government Grants -27,020 -26,991 Fees & Charges -5,649 -6,196 Interest -102 -167 Other (grants,rent,sales) -2,054 -2,135 TOTAL GROSS INCOME -34,825 -35,489 Contribution to / -from reserves 819 1,292 NET EXPENDITURE 14,090 15,741 Where Your District Council gets its money 2017/18 2018/19 £000’s £000’s Council Tax 7,135 7,499 Government Formula Grant 3,325 4,144 Specific Grants 301 299 New Homes Bonus 3,329 3,799 Retained Business Rates 0 0 TOTAL 14,090 15,741 Stratford-On-Avon District Council 7 Your council tax explained Your council tax is a local property tax that is charged in order to supplement Government funding of the local services provided by public authorities. It applies to properties used by people as their homes. The amount of council tax you pay is dependent upon which band your property is in. In addition Parish Councils throughout the District have additional expenses called precepts, which are added in proportion to your council tax depending on where you live. Band SDC charges Staff - The figures are based on full-time equivalent employees. A 91.38 As of 1 B 106.61 1 April 2016 1 April 2017 C 121.84 February 2018 D 137.07 E 167.53 F 197.99 G 228.45 H 274.14 253 240 253 Help with meeting your council tax bill If you are on a low income and liable to pay council tax, you could be eligible to receive help towards paying your council tax by claiming Local Council Tax Reduction. The Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme is available for benefit recipients who can claim help towards their council tax