Your council tax explained 2013/2014
We will invest We will save
We have a can-do approach
We will We will focus on our protect customers
We will focus on communities Contents Foreword Foreword 2 This booklet outlines Wiltshire Council’s budget and gives details of your council tax for 2013/14, as well as important Services provided information on central government’s changes to welfare. by Wiltshire Council 2 Like local authorities across Britain, the council is facing Our vision 3 unprecedented economic challenges. Funding is being reduced by central government, while the demand on council Your council services continues to rise. tax explained 4 Wiltshire Council is focused on strengthening communities Paying your bill 5 and helping local people who are also facing financial Wiltshire Council pressures due to the economic climate. We have, therefore, budget and made the decision to freeze council tax for the third year spending plans running. 2013/14 8 Despite a 22% cut in government funding, Wiltshire Council is committed to continuing to deliver high-quality services, Central government’s supporting economic growth and protecting vulnerable changes to people. welfare 10 This is being achieved through making efficiencies by working Town and parish innovatively and investing in frontline services, as well as council tax working closely and sharing resources with other public expenditure 12 organisations and local communities. We will continue to take Wiltshire Fire radical decisions so we can help our residents and businesses & Rescue Service 21 and support those who need it most. Office of the Police and Crime Services provided by Commissioner for Wiltshire Council Wiltshire and Wiltshire Council provides a range of services which are paid Swindon for partly by council tax. Everyone who lives in Wiltshire has (OPCC) 24 access to services – from waste and recycling collection, to pothole repairs on the county’s roads, and from access to leisure centres, to internet provision and books at Wiltshire Council libraries. Your council tax also helps fund the police and fire services and town and parish councils. Wiltshire Council collects the council tax on behalf of these public sector organisations. The total amount is then split to provide a range of services which are part of your everyday life.
2 Wiltshire Council This booklet explains how the Wiltshire • support the local economy Council budget of £340.518 million, of • meet housing needs which £201.182 million is funded by • reduce our environmental impact council tax, is spent. It will also detail how • achieve savings, be more efficient and your council tax is calculated. Houses are ensure we deliver value for money split into Bands depending on the value of • focus on our customers and improve the house. A Band D household will pay access to our services. £1,222.43 to Wiltshire Council which is the same as last year. Investing your money Our vision and priorities help shape our Our vision spending priorities for the coming year. “To create stronger and more resilient To ensure we are able to invest in our communities.” priority services, we have worked very Creating a strong sense of community hard to begin transforming our services to spirit lies at the heart of our vision. We make greater efficiencies and savings. want to encourage and support local communities to get involved and work We will: with us to strengthen their ability to deal • help more older people receive with local challenges. our services • recycle 50% of our waste Our vision is underpinned by three key goals: • reduce the roads’ maintenance backlog • Deliver high quality, low cost, • help the economy by giving 85% of customer focused services Wiltshire superfast broadband • Ensure local, open, honest decision making • increase good examination results for our children • Work together to support Wiltshire’s communities • help more children in need receive our care Our priorities are to: • provide 450 new affordable homes • work in partnership to support every year. vulnerable individuals and families We will have: • increase opportunities to help young people achieve their potential • saved £100 million in our management costs • promote local, open, honest decision-making • reduced 95 offices to three main hubs. • improve our roads and road safety
Wiltshire Council 3 Your council tax explained What is council tax? Your council tax contributes to the funding of the services provided by Wiltshire Council, your town, parish or city council, Wiltshire Police and Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service. Wiltshire Council collects council tax but the bill consists of components (precepts), which are charged and redistributed to other authorities. (See chart based on an average Band D charge per year). Details of towns and parishes which have a precept greater than £140,000 a year are featured in this booklet. How are bills calculated? The actual amount you pay depends on the council tax Band your property is placed in. This is based on market values as at April 1991. Your council tax bill states which Band you are in. There are eight Bands, A – H.
Council Tax
Average town/ Value of Property Wiltshire Fire Police Council tax Band parish council (1/4/91) Council (£) (£) (£) precept (£) payable (£)
A Up to £40,000 814.95 41.59 105.18 49.36 1,011.08 B £40,000 - £52,000 950.78 48.52 122.71 57.59 1,179.60 C £52,001 - £68,000 1,086.60 55.45 140.24 65.81 1,348.10 D £68,001 - £88,000 1,222.43 62.38 157.77 74.04 1,516.62 E £88,001 - £120,000 1,494.08 76.24 192.83 90.49 1,853.64 F £120,001 - £160,000 1,765.73 90.10 227.89 106.95 2,190.67 G £160,001 - £320,000 2,037.38 103.97 262.95 123.40 2,527.70 H Over £320,000 2,444.86 124.76 315.54 148.08 3,033.24
This table is based upon the average parish/town council Band D council tax charge for 2013/14. Your council tax bill will include the specific charge relevant to your parish/town council. Tables detailing the individual parish/town council Band D council tax charges are available on our website at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/ctaxhowmuch For more information about valuation Bands, including how to appeal, visit www.voa.gov.uk or contact: the Valuation Office Agency, on 03000 501 501 or email: [email protected] Payment of your council tax bill must continue whilst any appeal is in progress.
4 Wiltshire Council Paying your bill What happens if I am late paying? Who should pay? We will send you a reminder notice and if Virtually all homes are subject to council you pay late on two separate occasions a tax. If you are the owner or occupier, you final notice will be sent for the outstanding are liable for council tax. amount. Joint owners are jointly liable and one bill Arranging direct debit can help avoid will be sent to both people. this. We would also advise anyone who is If you move into a property part way experiencing difficulty in paying to through the year, your bill will be contact us. calculated from the date of sale and/or Failure to pay either a reminder notice or occupation. final notice will result in a summons being When should I pay? issued and court costs being added to your account. For advice, contact us on You will receive your bill in advance for the 0300 456 0109 whole financial year 1 April to 31 March and it will normally be broken down Can I appeal against into 10 monthly, two half yearly, or one installment. From 1 April 2013 council tax my bill? payers can request to pay their bill over 12 If you believe any of the information on installments from April to March. The dates the bill is incorrect, please contact us when your payments are due are shown on immediately. your bill. If your bill is calculated part way through the year, your bill will be divided Can I get help with by the maximum number of installments paying my bill? available. Housing and council tax reduction is How can I pay? available to help people pay for their rent and/or council tax. If you are on a low Arrangements for payment dates and income you may qualify for help with payment options are available. These are paying your council tax. If you think you detailed on the back of your bill. Using may be entitled to help please contact the direct debit is the easiest option and keeps council and arrange an appointment on our costs to a minimum. You can arrange 0300 456 0110. to pay by direct debit by simply calling the Central government has recently made council changes to council tax benefit. The If you do not wish to pay by direct debit introduction of a new scheme called you can still pay by phone on 0300 456 council tax reduction means there are 0119 or on the internet significant changes to the way a claim for www.wiltshire.gov.uk. financial support is assessed. You must still make a claim in writing and forms are available in every council office.
Wiltshire Council 5 If you were entitled to council tax benefit discontinue the discount or benefit. you will be transferred to the new system. If you are paying the full amount and your However, changes to the scheme may circumstances change, for example if you mean you receive a smaller reduction in lose your job, or if there is a bereavement, your bill. If this is the case, you will need to please notify the council. You could be read the information in this leaflet about entitled to a discount or council tax how to pay. reduction. Some parts of the scheme are not applied Can I get a discount? to those of pensionable age. Some parts You can get a 25% discount if you are the of the scheme are not applied to those in only adult living at home. receipt of a disability premium or a war disablement pension, as such persons You may also be entitled to a discount if you are regarded as ‘vulnerable’. For those are: of working age who are not regarded as • a full time student, or on a youth vulnerable, Council Tax Reduction (CTR) training scheme or apprenticeship will be assessed on 80% of the net bill, • a student nurse in certain categories leaving at least 20% to pay. • permanently resident in hospital or in a Further details about the scheme are care home available on the council’s website: • staying in certain hostels or night shelters www.wiltshire.gov.uk • 18 or 19 years old and you are at school, or have just left More details on the introduction of • over 18 still receiving child benefit the scheme and the impact of the allowance government’s changes to welfare are on • a care worker on low pay, or caring for pages 8 and 9. someone other than your partner or Is there help for people child with disablities? • in prison – unless you are in prison for not paying council tax or a fine If you are disabled, or someone living with • a foreign spouse or dependant of a you is disabled, and your home has been student specially adapted, or you use a wheelchair • a member of a religious community within the house, you may be entitled to a • a member of international headquarters, reduction in your council tax bill. or a defence organisation, or one of their What if my dependants. circumstances change? Is my property exempt? If you are entitled to council tax reduction If the following are the only occupants in a or a discount and your circumstances property, they do not have to pay: change you must notify the council • students or people aged under 18 immediately. Depending on the change, • people who are severely mentally the council may amend your award or impaired
6 Wiltshire Council • Armed Forces personnel in barracks Empty caravan pitches, houseboat moorings and married quarters. (Arrangements and properties under the responsibility of a are in place for Forces families to pay for bankrupt’s trustee are exempt. local services.) When an exemption expires the following • elderly or dependent relatives in may be granted following a visit from the annexes council: • diplomats and members of visiting Forces • unfurnished properties considered Some unoccupied properties remain uninhabitable may be exempt for a exempt, including properties left empty: maximum of 12 months. (Three months • by someone who has gone into prison 100% exemption/nine months 50% • by someone who has moved to a exemption) hospice, hospital or care home Unfurnished properties are exempt for • by someone who has moved out to care three months at 100% and three months for another person at 50% from the date the furniture was • by students removed. After six months a new bill will be • awaiting probate issued for full council tax. • due to repossession by a bank or A 50% discount can be applied to a second building society home when a person who is liable is • because their occupation is prohibited by required to live in specific types of law awaiting occupation by a minister of job-related accommodation. However, religion those with second homes which are not • because it is an annexe that cannot be specifically job-related will still be recorded let separately as having them, but the discount will cease • because they are owned by charities for on 1 April 2013. charitable purposes.
Wiltshire Council 7 Wiltshire Council budget and spending plans 2013/14 The budget requirement is the money we need to pay for services once we have taken account of money coming in from fees and charges, and specific and general government grants. The budget requirement for Wiltshire Council in 2013/14 is £340.518 million (£m).
Wiltshire Council budget requirement 2013/14 (£m) Gross budgeted expenditure 865.348 Less: Ring-fenced specific government grants (schools) 265.476 Ring-fenced specific government grants (benefits) 117.407 Other income 141.947 Budget requirement 340.518
The budget requirement for 2013/14 will be spent across services as follows 20 2013/14 (£m) 2012/13 (£m) Older people 46.408 44.055 Other vulnerable adults 8.626 8.503 Learning disability 40.331 38.444 Mental health 22.455 23.748 Resources, strategy and commissioning 2.402 2.807 Community leadership and governance 3.284 3.303 Libraries, heritage and arts 4.078 4.540 Strategic housing 5.223 5.456 Highways and streetscene 18.012 19.215 Leisure 2.996 3.197 Car parking (5.326) (5.927) Children’s social care 32.620 29.704 Integrated Youth 2.965 3.661 Early Years 7.439 9.102 School improvement 2.825 3.752 Business and commercial services 0.449 0.771 Targeted services and learner support 7.153 7.572 Commisioning and performance 2.738 2.916 Funding schools 0.000 0.000 Safeguarding 0.935 0.970
8 Wiltshire Council 2013/14 (£m) 2012/13 (£m) Policy, performance and partnership 0.260 0.516 Finance, procurement and internal audit 5.160 8.592 Revenues and benefits – subsidy 0.000 0.007 Legal and democratic 6.652 7.488 Communications and branding 1.977 2.238 Human Resources and organisational development 3.163 2.689 Information services 13.464 14.865 Customer services and business services finance 4.603 5.684 Strategic property services 1.435 2.510 Transformation programme 16.111 15.492 Economy and regeneration 3.659 3.862 Development services 0.852 1.186 Highways strategic services 6.366 7.054 Public transport 11.106 11.287 Education transport 8.329 8.241 Waste 31.946 30.597 Public health 0.264 0.300 Public protection 3.355 3.755 Digital inclusion 0.238 0.091 Corporate directors 0.145 0.970 Movement to/from reserves 0.000 0.000 Capital financing 22.898 25.221 Restructure and contingency (3.135) (0.904) Specific and general grants* (12.109) (38.033) Corporate levys 8.166 7.158 Budget requirement 340.518 326.655 Funded by: Council tax (incl collection fund surplus)* 202.882 222.965 Central government funding (incl Business Rates 137.636 103.690 Retention and RSG)* Total funding 340.518 326.655
* There have been significant changes to how local authorities receive funding from central government, including the accounting treatment of several grants and council tax support (formerly benefits) since 2012/13 which makes direct comparison between years difficult. For further detailed information on our plans for 2013/14 and the subsequent years please view the Wiltshire Council Business Plan 2011–2015 and accompanying updated Financial Plan 2011–2015 which can be found on the council’s website: www.wiltshire.gov.uk
Wiltshire Council 9 Some parts of the scheme do not apply to Central those in receipt of a disability premium or a government’s war disablement pension. These people are considered to be vulnerable. For those of changes to welfare working age who are not regarded as being Central government’s Welfare Reform vulnerable CTR will be assessed on 80% of Act 2012 was approved in March 2012. the net bill, leaving at least 20% to pay. This will lead to the biggest change to We have changed the treatment of capital the welfare system for over 60 years. This and of non-dependants and abolished change to national welfare is designed to second adult rebate. We will not backdate simplify the benefit system and encourage any claim. We encourage you to report people to work, while protecting the most any change of circumstance promptly. For vulnerable in society. further details see the council’s web pages. The Council Tax Reduction The new under-occupancy rule scheme As well as the national council tax benefit From April 2013 the Council Tax Reduction scheme being stopped, central government scheme (CTR) will replace council tax is introducing a new under-occupancy rule. benefit. Unlike the old national scheme, Working age residents who receive housing CTR is a local scheme shaped by Wiltshire benefit and are considered to be ‘under- residents; it may differ greatly or very little occupied’ by one bedroom, or more, may from schemes operated by other councils. have their housing benefit reduced from The scheme will be simplified for people on April 2013. They will either have to find a low income, encouraging those who can the money to pay the difference between to work and protecting the most vulnerable. their housing benefit and rent, or look for a Most customers of pensionable age will not smaller property that is deemed to be right be affected by any of the changes. for their family’s size.
10 Wiltshire Council A mutual exchange or a transfer could be Local Welfare Provision Scheme considered and housing providers can assist. From April 2013 the council will begin The reduction will be a fixed percentage operating a new Welfare Provision Scheme of the person’s eligible rent, not of the that will enable us to refer those in crisis housing benefit they receive. This has been to a number of organisations which can set at 14% for one extra bedroom and offer goods and services. However, the 25% for two or more extra bedrooms. If council will not be able to make any cash you are unsure if these changes affect you, payments or loans under the new scheme. contact the council on 0300 456 0110. We have people on hand to help with your Community banks queries. The council’s advice is not to be tempted to seek short-term, high-interest loans Universal credit from either legal or illegal loan companies. Universal credit will start being introduced Local Credit Unions may be able to help. in October 2013 in Wiltshire and will They are non-profit-making co-operatives; replace most of the existing welfare members pool their savings to lend to one benefits. The government intends to another at minimum interest and help to introduce it gradually over the next five run the credit union in a not-for-profit way. years. Again, the aim is to simplify the Wiltshire Community Bank is an benefit system and give people more organisation run through Wiltshire control over how their money is budgeted. Money. It is jointly funded by Wiltshire It will be paid monthly and go directly Council. It provides a range of services to to claimants who will be able to make its members, including affordable loans, more decisions about how they run budgeting advice and top-up debit cards. their household budgets. They will be For more information call 01249 248323. responsible for making rent payments.
Wiltshire Council 11 Town and parish council tax expenditure Town and parish councils which precept in excess of £140,000 in 2013/14 are required to provide a breakdown of their service expenditure. This applies to the following councils:
Amesbury Town Council The Bowman Centre, Shears Drive, Amesbury. SP4 7XT Telephone: 01980 622999 Email: [email protected] Website: www.amesburytowncouncil.gov.uk
Expenditure 2013/14 (£) 2012/13 (£) Administration/management/maintenance 168,930 172,327 Promotions/grants/donations 20,150 31,650 Projects and facilities 75,052 119,300 Total gross expenditure 264,132 323,277 Less 2013/14 (£) 2012/13 (£) Income 47,833 117,277 Use of reserves 0 0 Council tax support funding from Wiltshire Council 20,638 N/A Budget requirement (precept) 195,661 206,000
12 Town and parish councils Bradford on Avon Town Council St Margaret’s Hall, Bradford on Avon. BA15 1DE Telephone: 01225 864240 Email: [email protected] Website: www.bradfordonavontowncouncil.gov.uk
Expenditure 2013/14 (£) 2012/13 (£)
Central establishment administration 140,525 134,020 Civic and property 165,965 151,723 Projects 92,500 120,414 Total gross expenditure 398,990 406,157 Less 2013/14 (£) 2012/13 (£) Income 12,000 52,000 Use of reserves 25,000 0 Council tax support funding from Wiltshire Council 32,583 N/A Budget requirement (precept) 329,407 354,157
Calne Town Council Bank House, The Strand, Calne. SN11 0EN Telephone: 01249 814000 Email: [email protected] Website: www.calne.gov.uk
Expenditure 2013/14 (£) 2012/13 (£)
Community services/facilities 764,395 736,995 Central support/corporate costs 369,610 411,260 Community projects/events 234,350 230,300 Total gross expenditure 1,368,355 1,378,555
Less 2013/14 (£) 2012/13 (£)
Income 195,530 205,730 Use of reserves 0 0 Council tax support funding from Wiltshire Council 157,072 N/A Budget requirement (precept) 1,015,753 1,172,825
Town and parish councils 13 Chippenham Town Council The Town Hall, High Street, Chippenham. SN15 3ER Telephone: 01249 446699 Email: [email protected] Website: www.chippenham.gov.uk
Expenditure 2013/14 (£) 2012/13 (£)
Sports and outside sites 1,104,724 1,122,029 Heritage, information and halls 819,801 627,055 Democratic, member services and civic 475,117 482,826 Total gross expenditure 2,399,642 2,231,910
Less 2013/14 (£) 2012/13 (£)
Income 419,267 395,520 Use of reserves 253,497 135,000 Council tax support funding from Wiltshire Council 185,863 N/A Budget requirement (precept) 1,541,015 1,701,390
Corsham Town Council Town Hall, High Street, Corsham, Wiltshire. SN13 0EZ Telephone: 01249 702130 Email: [email protected] Website: www.corsham.gov.uk
Expenditure 2013/14 (£) 2012/13 (£)
Finance and general purposes 473,215 449,278 Leisure and amenities 185,716 185,977 Total gross expenditure 658,931 635,255
Less 2013/14 (£) 2012/13 (£)
Income 72,444 75,165 Use of reserves 0 0 Council tax support funding from Wiltshire Council 60,491 N/A Budget requirement (precept) 525,996 560,090
14 Town and parish councils Cricklade Town Council Ockwells, 113 High Street, Cricklade. SN6 6AE Telephone: 01793 751394 Email: [email protected] Website: www.cricklade-tc.gov.uk
Expenditure 2013/14 (£) 2012/13 (£)
Town management, maintenance and grants 220,683 217,702 Community amenities and leisure 31,325 38,780 Town planning, development and car parks 26,250 15,150 Total gross expenditure 278,258 271,632
Less 2013/14 (£) 2012/13 (£)
Income 17,621 18,841 Use of reserves 13,100 9,950 Council tax support funding from Wiltshire Council 19,912 N/A Budget requirement (precept) 227,625 242,841
Devizes Town Council Town Hall, St John’s Street, Devizes. SN10 1BN Telephone: 01380 722160 Email: [email protected] Website: www.devizes-tc.gov.uk
Expenditure 2013/14 (£) 2012/13 (£)
Corporate and central services 364,795 321,177 Culture heritage and tourism (inc commercial properties) 61,320 63,643 Recreation and sport (inc venues) open spaces and cemetery 636,074 634,425 Capital 42,000 34,442 Total gross expenditure 1,104,189 1,053,687
Less 2013/14 (£) 2012/13 (£)
Income 630,882 589,055 Use of reserves 0 0 Council tax support funding from Wiltshire Council 70,213 N/A Budget requirement (precept) 403,094 464,632
Town and parish councils 15 Malmesbury Town Council Town Hall, Cross Hayes, Malmesbury. SN16 9BZ Telephone: 01666 822143 Email: [email protected] Website: www.malmesbury.gov.uk
Expenditure 2013/14 (£) 2012/13 (£)
Administration, corporate and civic activity 191,344 £177,644 Town Hall including loan repayment 226,163 226,563 Parks, leisure, town promotion, tourism and planning 86,233 88,773 Total gross expenditure 503,740 492,980
Less 2013/14 (£) 2012/13 (£)
Income 120,590 118,860 Use of reserves 31,957 28,841 Council tax support funding from Wiltshire Council 33,873 N/A Budget requirement (precept) 317,320 345,279
Marlborough Town Council Council Offices, 5 High Street, Marlborough. SN8 1AA Telephone: 01672 512487 Email: [email protected] Website: www.marlboroughtowncouncil.gov.uk
Expenditure 2013/14 (£) 2012/13 (£)
Town Hall and properties 160,717 159,325 Open spaces and cemetery 211,839 212,747 Civic and administrative services 204,478 207,806 Transfer to reserves 927 30 Total gross expenditure 577,961 579,908
Less 2013/14 (£) 2012/13 (£) Income 156,961 172,908 Use of reserves 0 0 Council tax support funding from Wiltshire Council 31,253 N/A Budget requirement (precept) 389,747 407,000
16 Town and parish councils Melksham Town Council Town Hall, Market Place, Melksham. SN12 6ES Telephone: 01225 704187 Email: [email protected] Website: www.melkshamtown.co.uk
Expenditure 2013/14 (£) 2012/13 (£)
Administration 289,915 274,375 Properties, buildings and town amenities 166,480 163,310 Town development, grants and projects 48,225 45,900 Total gross expenditure 504,620 483,585
Less 2013/14 (£) 2012/13 (£)
Income 146,100 141,535 Use of reserves 10,750 0 Council tax support funding from Wiltshire Council 56,072 N/A Budget requirement (precept) 291,698 342,050
Purton Parish Council Council Office, Village Hall, Purton. SN5 4AJ Telephone: 01793 771066 Email: [email protected] Website: www.communigate.co.uk/wilts/purtonparishcouncil
Expenditure 2013/14 (£) 2012/13 (£)
Play areas 45,465 10,418 Burial and Rights of Way 29,958 34,832 General areas and planning 148,793 129,991 Total gross expenditure 224,216 175,241
Less 2013/14 (£) 2012/13 (£)
Income 40,809 9,811 Use of reserves 11,686 0 Council tax support funding from Wiltshire Council 7,930 N/A Budget requirement (precept) 163,791 165,430
Town and parish councils 17 Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council 117 High Street, Royal Wootton Bassett. SN4 7AU Telephone: 01793 850222 Email: [email protected] Website: www.royalwoottonbassett.gov.uk
Expenditure 2013/14 (£) 2012/13 (£)
Revenue and resources 278,344 284,512 Amenities 583,237 594,408 Total gross expenditure 861,581 878,920
Less 2013/14 (£) 2012/13 (£)
Income 74,491 91,830 Use of reserves 0 0 Council tax support funding from Wiltshire Council 69,485 N/A Budget requirement (precept) 717,605 787,090
Salisbury City Council Telephone: 01722 342860 Email: [email protected] Website: www.salisburycitycouncil.gov.uk
Expenditure 2013/14 (£) 2012/13 (£)
Facilities and services 2,103,280 2,059,413 Establishment, democratic, civic, community 841,640 757,575 Capital 505,433 705,807 Total gross expenditure 3,450,353 3,522,795
Less 2013/14 (£) 2012/13 (£)
Income 2,070,191 2,142,633 Use of reserves 0 0 Council tax support funding from Wiltshire Council 163,481 N/A Budget requirement (precept) 1,216,681 1,380,162
18 Town and city councils Tidworth Town Council Council Offices, Tidworth Community Centre, Wylye Road, Tidworth. SP9 7QH Telephone: 01980 847390 Email: [email protected] Website: www.tidworthtowncouncil.gov.uk
Expenditure 2013/14 (£) 2012/13 (£) Administration 141,697 113,970 Services and grants 70,669 48,530 Community events 15,000 20,000 Total gross expenditure 227,366 182,500
Less 2013/14 (£) 2012/13 (£)
Income 15,000 12,500 Use of reserves 0 0 Council tax support funding from Wiltshire Council 17,366 N/A Budget requirement (precept) 195,000 170,000
Trowbridge Town Council St Stephen’s Place, Trowbridge. BA14 8AH Telephone: 01225 765072 Email: [email protected] Website: www.trowbridge.gov.uk
Expenditure 2013/14 (£) 2012/13 (£)
Administration and democratic services 641,259 635,346 Direct services 1,078,027 1,006,083 Leisure services 223,227 249,786 Museum 200,190 177,626 Total gross expenditure 2,142,703 2,068,841
Less 2013/14 (£) 2012/13 (£)
Income 797,987 749,353 Use of reserves 0 0 Council tax support funding from Wiltshire Council 197,843 N/A Budget requirement (precept) 1,146,873 1,319,488
Town and parish councils 19 Warminster Town Council Warminster Civic Centre, Sambourne Road, Warminster BA12 8LB Telephone: 01985 214847 Email: [email protected] Website: www.warminster.uk.com
Expenditure 2013/14 (£) 2012/13 (£)
Administration 193,576 218,771 Properties, buildings and town amenities 215,175 197,207 Town development, grants and projects 123,200 93,200 Total gross expenditure 531,951 509,178
Less 2013/14 (£) 2012/13 (£)
Income 69,529 55,860 Use of reserves 0 0 Council tax support funding from Wiltshire Council 55,028 N/A Budget requirement (precept) 407,394 453,318
Westbury Town Council The Laverton, Bratton Road, Westbury. BA13 3EN Telephone: 01373 822232 Email: [email protected] Website: www.westburytowncouncil.gov.uk
Expenditure 2013/14 (£) 2012/13 (£)
Administration, civic and social activities 153,325 151,260 Community services and capital projects 198,670 197,750 Properties and loan charges 74,917 74,872 Total gross expenditure 426,912 423,882
Less 2013/14 (£) 2012/13 (£)
Income 70,595 74,550 Use of reserves 0 0 Council tax support funding from Wiltshire Council 49,225 N/A Budget requirement (precept) 307,092 349,332
20 Town and parish councils Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service Fire Service HQ, Manor House, Potterne, Devizes, SN10 5PP Telephone: 01380 723601 Website: www.wiltsfire.gov.uk Email: [email protected] Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service works hard to protect the communities of Wiltshire and Swindon, often working with partners to reduce the risk of fire wherever possible. We have a proud record of being ‘in the heart of the community, for the community’. As well as tackling fires and helping people involved in road traffic collisions, we can be called upon when all manner of emergencies arise – we have specialist teams providing rope, water and animal rescue capability, and we are also called upon to deal with flooding, and to help other agencies. Across the county, we have 24 fire stations – at Amesbury, Bradford on Avon, Calne, Chippenham, Corsham, Cricklade, Devizes, Ludgershall, Malmesbury, Marlborough, Melksham, Mere, Pewsey, Ramsbury, Royal Wootton Bassett, Salisbury, Stratton, Swindon, Tisbury, Trowbridge, Warminster, Westbury, Westlea and Wilton. As well as providing a 24/7 emergency response, we focus on the prevention and protection agendas, to reduce the risk of incidents happening in the first place. Our community safety department provides home fire safety checks, we have an education team working with young people, and we lead on a number of road safety initiatives. We also have a technical fire safety department, which ensures that fire safety legislation is being adhered to by businesses and commercial premises. To provide the service the public expects, we are dependent on on-call firefighters – men and women who either live or work in their community and who respond to a pager as and when incidents occur. We are always looking for new recruits, visit www.wiltsfire.gov.uk or call 01380 731144 to find out more. You can follow Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service on Facebook www.facebook.com/WiltshireFRS and on Twitter @WiltsFire.
Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service 21 Wiltshire and Swindon Fire Authority, which necessary to ensure an efficient and acts as the overall governing body for the effective service. To this end, they set an Fire & Rescue Service, has 13 members – annual budget, which is funded by: nine appointed by Wiltshire Council and • grants from central government four by Swindon Borough Council. • an allocation of non-domestic rates These councillors have a statutory duty to • an annual precept on local taxpayers, provide the financial and other resources raised as part of the council tax bill.
The amount you will pay for your Fire & Rescue Service in 2013/14
Band A Band B Band C Band D Band E Band F Band G Band H £41.59 £48.52 £55.45 £62.38 £76.24 £90.10 £103.97 £124.76
Capital expenditure 2013/14
Property and estates £800,000 Vehicles and equipment £1,574,700 Information and communication technology £458,500 Total capital programme £2,833,200
How did we perform? 2011/12 Expenditure per head of population on the provision of £37.38 fire and rescue services Number of primary fires per 100,000 population (e.g. property fires) 134.48 Percentage of fires attended in dwellings with no smoke alarm 26.39%
22 Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service Budget 2012/13 – how the money was spent and where it came from Employees £19,626,800 75.1% Premises £1,276,400 4.9% Transport £735,700 2.8% Supplies and services £2,753,000 10.5% Capital financing charges £1,725,200 6.6% Income -£335,000 -1.3% Net spending on services £25,782,100 98.6% To (+)/from (-) reserves £361,500 1.4% Amount to be financed £26,143,600 100.0%
Council tax £15,854,300 60.7% Government support – grants £10,096,800 38.6% Collection fund surplus £192,500 0.7% Total financing £26,143,600 100.0%
Budget 2013/14 – how the money will be spent and where it will come from Employees £19,292,400 77.0% Premises £1,308,400 5.2% Transport £720,300 2.9% Supplies and services £2,857,300 11.4% Capital financing charges £1,566,400 6.3% Income -£297,500 -1.2% Net spending on services £25,447,300 101.6% To (+)/from (-) reserves -£400,100 -1.6% Amount to be financed £25,047,200 100.0%
Council tax £14,347,200 57.2% Government support – grants £8,110,100 32.4% Business rates £2,397,400 9.6% Collection fund surplus £192,500 0.8% Total financing £25,047,200 100.0%
Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service 23 Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner Commissioner’s role Mr Macpherson has a wide role in relation to policing and crime across Wiltshire and for Wiltshire and Swindon. This includes: • setting the strategic direction for policing Swindon (OPCC) in Wiltshire and Swindon through a five-year Police and Crime Plan Your Police and Crime Commissioner • securing efficient and effective policing for Wiltshire and Swindon The first ever elections for Police and Crime • working with partners to tackle Commissioners (PCCs) took place in 41 Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB), crime and police force areas in England and Wales in re-offending; these partners include November 2012. Swindon and Wiltshire Councils and the Angus Macpherson was elected voluntary community sector commissioner for the Wiltshire and Swindon • engaging and listening to communities area. His team, the Office of the PCC for • setting the Wiltshire Police budget and Wiltshire and Swindon, directly replaced the policing element of council tax Wiltshire Police Authority. • appointing and, if necessary, Commissioners have been introduced by dismissing the Wiltshire Police Chief central government as a way to increase Constable and holding them to public accountability of the police service. account. Our commissioner, Angus Macpherson, will be working with a wide range of partners. Commissioning services A main part of Mr Macpherson’s role is commissioning services to help reduce crime and Anti-Social Behaviour in Wiltshire and Swindon. He will commission a combination of policing services from Wiltshire Police, ensuring there is effective and efficient policing in accordance with the priorities he has set. Mr Macpherson will also commission other Angus Macpherson, the new commissioner, organisations to provide services that help with Victim Support’s chair of trustees and reduce ASB, crime and re-offending in our chief executive, Enid Rowland and communities, as well as to support victims Javed Khan and witnesses.
24 Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon These other organisations could be local It could be any organisation that can play authorities, housing associations, voluntary an important part in improving your quality and community groups, ‘watch’ schemes, of life in relation to disorder and crime. such as Neighbourhood Watch and He will then monitor and hold these Farm Watch, and charities such as Victim organisations to account for delivering the Support. best possible service they can for you.
Commissioning wheel Police and Crime Plan More information about Mr Macpherson’s Assessing needs priorities and the initiatives he plans to and priorities fund are included in his Police and Crime Strategic Plan. This is an important document which planning sets the strategic direction of policing in Wiltshire and Swindon for the next five Performance years. management Consultation on a draft version of this Service plan ran from 18 February to 10 March specification 2013, with the final plan due to be Contracting published by the end of March 2013. You and procurement can find out more about the plan on the Commissioner’s website: Funding information www.wiltshire-pcc.gov.uk
Funding summary 2013/14 (£m) 2012/13 (£m)
Police grant 41.714 37.688 Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) funding 22.545 24.790 Council tax freeze grant 2011/12 0.363 0.000 Council tax freeze grant 2013/14 0.991 0.000 Community Safety Fund grant 0.477 0.000 Localisation grant 3.830 0.000 Collection fund surplus 0.488 0.488 Council tax precept 36.287 40.098 106.695 103.064
How the commissioner uses the funding 2013/14 (£m) 2012/13 (£m)
Commissioning community safety services 1.165 0.686 Commissioning policing services 105.530 102.378 Total spend 106.695 103.064
Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon 25 How the policing service funding is allocated 2013/14 (£m) 2012/13 (£m)
Police officers and police staff 86.712 88.160 Training/other employee expenses 1.500 1.565 Premises and transport 9.610 9.633 Capital financing 0.750 0.750 All other costs 11.589 12.124 Total costs 110.161 112.232 Less income -4.631 -9.855 Net costs 105.530 102.377
In what areas will this be used: 2013/14
Local policing (including public interaction) 34.16% Criminal justice 7.61% Roads policing, firearms and dogs unit 7.88% Intelligence 4.29% Investigation 21.48% National policing 0.68% Back office (including support services) 21.19% Capital finance and pensions 2.71%
Spending per household in 2013/14 Band A Band B Band C Band D Band E Band F Band G Band H £105.18 £122.71 £140.24 £157.77 £192.83 £227.89 £262.95 £315.54
2.71% 34.16% Local policing (including public interaction) 21.19% Criminal justice 0.68% Roads policing, firearms and dogs intelligence Investigation 21.48% National policing 7.61% Back office (incl ACPO) 4.29% 7.88% Capital finance and pensions
26 Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon Engaging with you With this in mind he will be putting in place a number of ways that you can get involved Running right the way through the and give your feedback. Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan is a theme of ‘Partnership, Pro-activity and Some of the ways in which the Prevention’. Commissioner is looking to engage with communities are: area boards; localities; This is about working with communities to Youth Forum; Chambers of Commerce; tackle police and crime issues, protecting Victims’ Forum; Community and Voluntary the most vulnerable in society, putting Sector (VCS); his website and via social victims and witnesses first and helping media. offenders to break their cycles of re-offending. Mr Macpherson is therefore So, if you have something to contribute, looking for as many people as possible the Commissioner wants to hear from you. to get involved in community safety and You can find out lots of different ways to crime prevention initiatives. get in touch on his website: www.wiltshire-pcc.gov.uk Ongoing dialogue Come and find him at a community meeting, make contact through his office To help him do this he will be maintaining or his website or, better still, invite him to an ongoing dialogue with a broad range of see your group’s work in action. community groups, voluntary organisations and partner agencies. He and his team Contacts have already received a warm welcome Office of the Police and Crime from the Wiltshire Community Area Boards Commissioner: www.wiltshire-pcc.gov.uk (CABs) and Swindon Localities and will be or call 01380 734 022 regular attendees at these meetings. Victim Support: www.victimsupport.uk He has also had productive meetings Wiltshire Police: www.wiltshire.police.uk with a wide spectrum of organisations call 999 in an emergency including charities, the Wessex and or 101 in a non-emergency. Swindon Chambers of Commerce and a number of rural interest groups, such as the Countryside Alliance and the National Farmers’ Union. Get involved This ongoing dialogue with as many people as possible will be crucial to Mr Macpherson’s role of commissioning services that make a real and lasting difference to people’s feelings of safety.
Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon 27 Recycling collection service
The council introduced a county-wide, fortnightly waste and recycling collection service in 2012 for all residents. Plastic bottles and cardboard are collected in a blue lidded bin and residents may have two black boxes for the collection of paper, glass, cans, foil, clothing and shoes. In addition to recycling collections, there is a fortnightly collection of household waste. Residents are able to opt in to receive a fortnightly collection of garden waste too. It is sent for composting. Since this free service has been in place, more than 4,500 tonnes of garden waste is being collected in Wiltshire every month. It is shredded in Purton and composted for 20 weeks, before being graded and bagged. It is sold at household recycling centres for use on Wiltshire’s gardens. The recycling collection services helped Wiltshire residents to recycle more than 50% of their waste and reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill by more than 4,800 tonnes between April and September 2012. This compared very favourably with a recycling and composting rate of just over 44% during the same period the previous year.
Please remember that no additional waste should be presented next to your household waste bin. Bins and boxes should also be placed out by 7am on the day of collection.
Further information Information about Wiltshire Council services can be made available on request in other languages and formats such as large print and audio. Please contact the council by telephone 0300 456 0100 or email [email protected] www.wiltshire.gov.uk Our Wiltshire @WiltsCouncil Printed on 100% recycled paper. This booklet has been produced in partnership and printed at a cost of 7p per copy.