YOUR GUIDE to Council Tax2013/14 MESSAGE from the COUNCIL
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YOUR GUIDE TO Council Tax2013/14 MESSAGE FROM THE COUNCIL Message from the chief executive, East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Nigel Pearson A message from the chief executive The severe cutbacks to public spending core services which are essential to local have been found through the business in recent years, following the global people. transformation programme. financial crisis of 2008, have seen local government finances take a big hit. The council has achieved savings of some No one can pretend that the current National government funding, which £47 million over the last three years and financial climate is anything other accounts for about two thirds of all we are faced with more of the same as than challenging and difficult for local the available money to provide local it is estimated that further savings of £73 authorities like the East Riding, but our services, will have reduced by 36 per million will need to be made from now focus on value for money and readiness cent between 2010/11 and 2014/15 until 2016/17. to innovate and do things differently to and further reductions thereafter have reduce costs means we are better placed been indicated by the Chancellor of the The approach is a root-and-branch one than many other councils and we have exchequer. which looks at how we do things as well avoided a knee-jerk unplanned response. as what we do, which is why the council’s We aim to continue this measured Although the implications for East Riding business transformation programme is so approach in the interests of all residents in of Yorkshire’s budget are serious and far- important. The programme’s focus is on the East Riding. reaching, I want to reassure residents that different ways of service delivery, better we have been working for many years use of buildings and more cost effective Nigel Pearson to reduce budgets in a planned, careful procurement of goods and services. Chief executive manner, focusing on the key priorities and To date, £10 million of budget savings East Riding of Yorkshire Council Message from the leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Councillor Stephen Parnaby OBE A message from the leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council East Riding of Yorkshire Council has not good example is highways maintenance, come up with a local scheme which is as been treated more favourably than other which after successive severe winters has fair as possible in the circumstances. councils as far as the funding reductions been highlighted as a priority by people are concerned and we also start from attending our budget consultation events. A very positive feature of the budget the disadvantage of a low funding base is the continued investment over with Government grant that is £100 per Council tax will again be frozen in the years in the separately funded person less than the average for similar 2013/14 for the third successive year, building programme which results in local authorities. which will be welcomed by residents improvements to essential infrastructure whose finances are under strain with like schools, housing and local transport However, by planning ahead with a things like rising energy and food to the benefit of communities across robust financial strategy we are in a better costs. There is some compensatory the East Riding. The work also provides place than many, with substantial savings Government funding to freeze council tax a welcome boost for local jobs. Some achieved and more planned. A lot of but it does not cover the full cost and the £89 million will be invested in this way in credit must go to the staff and elected council has still had to find £2.4 million to 2013/14, with a similar sum earmarked for members of this council for rising to the keep bills from going up. the year after. challenge. Government changes to the council tax Councillor Stephen Parnaby OBE, The council has also been able to benefit system will mean that working age Leader of East Riding Of Yorkshire maintain – and in some cases put householders previously exempt will have Council additional funding into – service areas that to meet some of the cost of their bills but are particularly important to residents. A after wide-ranging consultation we have Your guide to 2 Council Tax EASIER WAYS TO PAY Direct Debit Paying your council tax or business rates by direct debit is really easy. As this is the most efficient method of collection it helps to save us money which benefits you. If you pay in this way you can choose a payment date to suit you. Why not join the 100,000 council tax and business rates payers who already use this method of payment? To set up your direct debit, simply visit www.eastriding.gov.uk/counciltax or call (01482) 394747 for council tax or (01482) Online Other payments You can pay the following bills via the internet: You can also pay the following accounts at any of our payment offices: • council tax; • business rates; • council house and garage rents; • Yorkshire Water; • sundry debtor accounts; • Newlyn Bailiffs; • overpayment of housing benefit. • Kingston Communications; Payments may be made free using debit cards (Switch/ • Rundles Bailiffs; Maestro, Electron and Solo) or with credit cards (Visa and • Magistrate’s court fines; Mastercard) for which an administration fee will be payable. • Jacobs Certificated Bailiffs. To make a payment log on to East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s website at: www.eastriding.gov.uk and click on ‘Can Please make cheques payable to East Riding of I pay my council tax online’, this will take you to a page that Yorkshire Council. explains how you can pay. Telephone Standing order You can pay your accounts by either debit or credit card by To pay by standing order, please telephone the billing telephone (excluding garage rents). Simply ring 0845 120 and collection section for a form to take to your bank 0020 and give details of what you want to pay and your debit on (01482) 394747. or credit card details (there is an administration fee for the use of credit cards). Post Payments by post should be sent to: East Riding of Yorkshire Council, PO Box No. 83, Beverley HU 17 9YR. Cheques should be made payable to East Riding of Yorkshire Council. Please quote the council tax or business rates account number and your name and address on the reverse of the cheque. Post dated cheques are not acceptable. Cash payments by post should be registered. The council will not accept any responsibility for cash sent by ordinary post. Post office Payment can be made by National Giro at the Post Office by quoting the council’s Girobank account number 644 3958. Please ensure that you also quote your council tax or business rates account number, name and address. You should allow up to five working days for the payment to be credited to your account. A Post Office fee will be payable. “You can pay in person at any of our customer service centres or payment offices” Your guide to Council Tax 3 EASIER WAYS TO PAY Paying in person Payment offices You can pay in cash, by cheque, by debit card or credit card (there is an administration fee for the use of credit cards). Please take your bill when making payment by cash or cheque if a receipt is required. Anlaby 17 Hull Road Beverley Cross Street Beverley Samman Road (cash office only, not open Fridays) Bridlington Town Hall Quay Road Brough Petuaria Centre, Centurion Way Cottingham Civic Hall Market Green Driffield Council Offices West Garth Goole Council Offices Church Street Hedon 2 New Road Hessle Peeler House, Ferriby Road Hornsea 75 Newbegin Howden 69 Hailgate Market Weighton The Wicstun Centre,14 Beverley Road Pocklington Pocela Centre, Station Square Withernsea 243 Queen Street Opening hours: 9am to 4.30pm Monday to Thursday and 9am to 4pm Friday. Some of our sites open later and Saturday mornings, please visit our website www.eastriding.gov.uk for more details. The council will not accept any responsibility for cash deposited in its office letter boxes. What happens if I do not pay my bill on time? It is a legal requirement that each monthly pay the remaining balance for the year. If you are struggling to pay your instalment is received on or before the The council are only allowed to send you instalments, please ring the billing and due dates shown on your council tax and/ two reminders each year. The next time collection section as soon as possible or business rate bill. If you do not make you fail to pay your instalment by the on (01482) 394747. Avoid receiving these payments the council will take due date, the council will send you a final a reminder and/ or summons, because recovery action. notice. This will ask you to pay in full the you had simply forgotten to pay on time, remaining council tax or business rates for by choosing direct debit. Please ring the If you do not pay an instalment by the the full year. If this is not paid within seven billing and collection section on the above due date, a reminder will be sent to you days the council will send a summons number to set this up. and the amount in question must be paid and you will be responsible for the costs within seven days. If you do not pay the incurred. The council is only required to instalment due within the seven days, the provide proof of postage of the notices council will send you a summons after sent to you.