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Sharing your information This authority is under a duty to protect Sensitive information about you, for the public funds it administers and to example concerning your health or this end may use the information that financial status will not be shared with you provide for the prevention and anyone else unless it is allowed by law, detection of fraud. It may also share your for example in relation to a criminal information with other bodies responsible matter. for auditing or administering public funds for these purposes. This will involve regular data matching exercises, which For further information please contact Council Tax compares Council Tax data with other a member of staff on 01302 734454. information sources such as the electoral roll and benefit records. Contact information Council Tax data may also be provided 2011/12 to, and used for checks with other Council Tax Council departments where it is needed 01302 734454 by them to carry out their functions. Hard of Hearing For example, data can be used to help 01302 735376 to identify properties that have been empty for a while to encourage owners LocalTaxation@.gov.uk to bring them back into use and schools www.doncaster.gov.uk/counciltax may also check Council Tax records Introduction£ to Council Tax where there are enquiries regarding Council Tax and Housing Benefit pupil admissions. Customer names and [email protected] Your Council Tax helps to pay for public Part of your Council Tax also pays for contact addresses are also being held 01302 735336 services in Doncaster, including the the following services and is collected by Doncaster Council for the introduction Hard of Hearing following: on their behalf by Doncaster Council: of a single customer account. This will 01302 735322 benefit residents in the future by reducing • Collection and disposal • South Fire & Rescue Authority of rubbish and recycling the number of times a customer needs to Colonnades House, Duke Street • Police Authority notify the Council of a change. We will tell Payments • Road and street maintenance • South Yorkshire Transport Authority you more about this as it develops. including street lighting 08:45 to 16:00 Monday to Friday • South Yorkshire Pensions Authority Council Tax data may also be shared Enquiries • Helping older people to maintain 08:30 to 17:00 Monday to Friday their independence with other organisations where the If you live in a parish, your Council Tax Data Protection Act 1998 allows this • Safeguarding vulnerable adults also contributes to services provided in Automated Payment Line to happen. For example, information and children your own area. 0845 130 5910 may be shared with the Police, or HM • Environmental health Revenues and Customs if it is needed Hard of Hearing to prevent or detect a criminal offence, 01302 735376 • Leisure and Cultural Services carry out a prosecution or to assess or • Planning collect any tax or duty. Customer Services 01302 736000 [email protected] www.doncaster.gov.uk Further information about these charges can be seen on your bill and in the Council Tax table shown in this leaflet. www.doncaster.gov.uk

Your Council Tax bill What if I think my Ways to reduce your bill How much you pay depends on the Council Tax is wrong? value of your property on 1 April 1991, Council Tax Benefit If you think a mistake has been made, first the number of adults living at your If you, or anyone over 18 who lives with you, is on a low income, you may be entitled contact the Council Tax Office and provide the address, and the circumstances of to Council Tax Benefit. We need information about your income and capital, who lives information needed for it to be rectified; those adults. The Valuation Office, with you, and details of their circumstances to work out if you are eligible. We can a formal appeal may not be necessary. part of the Inland Revenue, values all also check if you are entitled to Housing Benefit, whether you rent your home from the properties. Properties are placed in one Appeals against your property band council or a private landlord. of eight bands from A – up to £40,000 Contact the Valuation Office within six months of (in 1991) to H – over £320,000 (in 1991). becoming the taxpayer if you think your property Discounts band is wrong. The property band can only be Single Person Discount If you are the only adult living in your property you could get Bands can increase when a property is changed for specific reasons, for example if you sold if significant building improvements a 25% discount. This depends on who uses your property as their main address even have bought a property and the Council Tax has if they don’t spend all of their time there. For example, partners who have moved have been made. increased because previous building work has put away for employment reasons only, may still be classed as having their main home in it into a higher band, or if part of the property has been demolished. Beware of telephone calls from Doncaster. During 2010/2011 all single person discounts were matched to a range of people claiming to be from the Council offering internal and external data. This exercise has resulted in the cancellation of over £73,000 Changes in your substantial refunds in return for an administration in discounts. If you suspect that someone is claiming a discount and they shouldn’t be fee because your property is in the wrong band. you can contact the council in confidence on 01302 734454. circumstances Never give out your personal information in such If you move house, or there is any situations. Other discounts Some adults don’t ‘count’ for Council Tax purposes even though other change in your circumstances, they live at the address - some examples are full time students, people in residential which may affect the amount of Council Appeals regarding discounts, exemptions and care, and some carers. A 25% discount can be given if only one adult at an address Tax you pay, you must let the Council the name of the taxpayer counts. A 50% discount can be given if no adults count. If your property is empty and Tax Office know immediately. If you If your application for a discount, exemption, or unfurnished or used as a second home a 50% discount may also apply. receive a reduction because of a disabled person’s reduction has been turned discount, disabled persons reduction down, or if the bill is in your name, you are not the or exemption, and you are no longer owner or resident of the property, and a request to Exemptions In certain circumstances and for a set period of time, you may not have to entitled to it you must notify the Council change the Council Tax records has been refused pay Council Tax at all. For example if your property is uninhabitable or is occupied by Tax Office within 21 days. If you do not you should appeal directly to the Council Tax Office. full time students only. you may incur a penalty. A penalty may Your appeal will be dealt with inside two months. If also apply if you knowingly provide false your appeal is unsuccessful you can then appeal to Disabilities If a disabled person lives in your property (adult or child), they use a information. the Valuation Tribunal. You should still pay Council wheelchair indoors, or the property has been adapted in a specific way, e.g. if a Tax while any appeal is outstanding. room has been taken out of household use for the disabled person, then a reduction equivalent to moving into a lower property band may be given. Information can be made available in Completion notice appeals other formats such as Braille or Audio Appeals should be made direct to the Valuation You need to make an application for all of the above. If you need further information or a Tape on request. Tribunal, however, before making an appeal you full list of all discount or exemption groups please contact Council Tax on 01302 734454 should contact the Council Tax Office first to see if a If you know someone who may need different date can be agreed informally. or go to www.doncaster.gov.uk/counciltax this service, please contact a member of staff for more information or if you Council Tax Benefit need any other help or advice. If you think your Council Tax or Housing Benefit is wrong you should contact Benefits on 01302 South Yorkshire Valuation Office Valuation Tribunal 735336. 03000 503233 01302 342324 [email protected] [email protected] If you think your Rateable Value is wrong www.voa.gov.uk www.valuationtribunal.gov.uk Contact the Valuation Office (Business Rates only). Council Tax Levels 2011/2012 The impact of budget requirements on Council Tax (£000) Area Parish Band Band Band Band Band Band Band Band Reduction in Gross Expenditure for Council Services -44,703 Precepts £ A B C D E F G H £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ Increase in Gross Expenditure for Levying Bodies 255 Doncaster (except where specified below) 862.80 1,006.61 1,150.41 1,294.21 1,581.81 1,869.41 2,157.01 2,588.42

Adwick on Dearne 3,400.00 882.34 1,029.41 1,176.46 1,323.52 1,617.63 1,911.75 2,205.86 2,647.04 Total Reduction in Gross Expenditure -44,448 Armthorpe 209,049.00 896.80 1,046.28 1,195.74 1,345.21 1,644.14 1,943.08 2,242.01 2,690.42 Add Askern 88,733.00 905.15 1,056.01 1,206.87 1,357.73 1,659.45 1,961.16 2,262.88 2,715.46

Auckley 28,000.00 879.29 1,025.84 1,172.39 1,318.94 1,612.04 1,905.13 2,198.23 2,637.88 Reduction in funding from Specific Grants 33,431 Austerfield 8,219.00 889.53 1,037.79 1,186.05 1,334.30 1,630.81 1,927.32 2,223.83 2,668.60 Total Net Reduction in Budget Requirement -11,017 Barnburgh/Harlington 30,000.00 893.29 1,042.18 1,191.06 1,339.94 1,637.70 1,935.46 2,233.23 2,679.88 Represented by Barnby Dun/Kirk Sandall 96,000.00 886.19 1,033.90 1,181.60 1,329.30 1,624.70 1,920.10 2,215.49 2,658.60 Bawtry 26,000.00 875.71 1,021.67 1,167.62 1,313.57 1,605.47 1,897.37 2,189.28 2,627.14 Reduction in Funding from Formula Grant and Schools Grants - 12,113 Blaxton 21,240.00 897.93 1,047.60 1,197.25 1,346.91 1,646.22 1,945.53 2,244.84 2,693.82 Increase in Funding from Collection Fund Surplus 811 Braithwell/Micklebring 5,000.00 870.72 1,015.85 1,160.97 1,306.09 1,596.33 1,886.57 2,176.81 2,612.18

Brodsworth 27,952.00 885.47 1,033.05 1,180.63 1,328.21 1,623.37 1,918.52 2,213.68 2,656.42 Increase in Funding from growth of Council Tax Base 285 Burghwallis 3,500.00 881.17 1,028.05 1,174.91 1,321.77 1,615.49 1,909.22 2,202.94 2,643.54 Per Band D Property, this equals 0.00 Cantley/Branton 24,000.00 878.53 1,024.97 1,171.39 1,317.81 1,610.65 1,903.50 2,196.34 2,635.62

Clayton/Frickley 3,000.00 883.42 1,030.67 1,177.90 1,325.14 1,619.61 1,914.09 2,208.56 2,650.28 The total Reduction in council spending is shown below Conisbrough Parks 3,000.00 878.80 1,025.28 1,171.74 1,318.21 1,611.14 1,904.08 2,197.01 2,636.42 Pay and Contractual Inflation 8,740 Denaby 1,594.00 870.91 1,016.08 1,161.23 1,306.38 1,596.68 1,886.99 2,177.29 2,612.76 National Changes to Financing of Services 8,633 Edenthorpe 40,000.00 881.69 1,028.64 1,175.59 1,322.54 1,616.44 1,910.33 2,204.23 2,645.08 Edlington 147,460.00 912.98 1,065.15 1,217.32 1,369.48 1,673.81 1,978.13 2,282.46 2,738.96 Financing Costs of Capital Procurement 1,159 Finningley 21,000.00 888.30 1,036.36 1,184.41 1,332.46 1,628.56 1,924.66 2,220.76 2,664.92 Levying Body Increases 255 Fishlake 34,800.00 956.73 1,116.19 1,275.65 1,435.10 1,754.01 2,072.92 2,391.83 2,870.20

Hampole/Skelbrooke 330.00 865.42 1,009.67 1,153.90 1,298.14 1,586.61 1,875.09 2,163.56 2,596.28 Cost Reductions - 29,804 Hatfield 158,800.00 887.01 1,034.85 1,182.69 1,330.52 1,626.19 1,921.86 2,217.53 2,661.04 Total Net Reduction in Budget Requirement -11,017 Hickleton 5,624.00 897.84 1,047.49 1,197.13 1,346.77 1,646.05 1,945.33 2,244.61 2,693.54

High Melton 2,400.00 878.04 1,024.39 1,170.73 1,317.07 1,609.75 1,902.43 2,195.11 2,634.14 Hooton Pagnell 3,250.00 886.10 1,033.79 1,181.48 1,329.16 1,624.53 1,919.89 2,215.26 2,658.32 Empty Properties - Loversall 900.00 873.33 1,018.89 1,164.45 1,310.00 1,601.11 1,892.22 2,183.33 2,620.00

Moss and District 5,800.00 876.46 1,022.55 1,168.62 1,314.70 1,606.85 1,899.01 2,191.16 2,629.40 Information for Landlords and Managing Agents

Norton 53,000.00 887.02 1,034.87 1,182.70 1,330.54 1,626.21 1,921.89 2,217.56 2,661.08 Owston 750.00 871.57 1,016.85 1,162.11 1,307.37 1,597.89 1,888.42 2,178.94 2,614.74 If you let your property it is important If the property is let to several individuals Rossington 83,700.00 877.91 1,024.23 1,170.55 1,316.87 1,609.51 1,902.14 2,194.78 2,633.74 that you tell the Council Tax Office the owner may still be responsible for / 155,489.00 889.38 1,037.62 1,185.85 1,334.08 1,630.54 1,927.00 2,223.46 2,668.16 straight away, providing the names Council Tax even if all people are shown Stainforth 135,000.00 921.59 1,075.19 1,228.79 1,382.39 1,689.59 1,996.78 2,303.98 2,764.78 of the tenants and their previous as joint tenants on the agreement. For Stainton 2,395.00 878.61 1,025.05 1,171.49 1,317.92 1,610.79 1,903.66 2,196.53 2,635.84 addresses. If information is received late more information about this please Sykehouse 7,000.00 888.16 1,036.20 1,184.22 1,332.25 1,628.30 1,924.36 2,220.41 2,664.50 and incomplete, then the owner of the contact Council Tax on 01302 734454. Thorne - Moorends 346,847.00 912.56 1,064.66 1,216.76 1,368.85 1,673.04 1,977.22 2,281.41 2,737.70 property may be charged 100% Council Thorpe in Balne 1,500.00 875.62 1,021.57 1,167.50 1,313.44 1,605.31 1,897.19 2,189.06 2,626.88 Tax for the period the property was Empty Homes Grants: for financial Tickhill 40,000.00 875.65 1,021.61 1,167.55 1,313.49 1,605.37 1,897.26 2,189.14 2,626.98 occupied, unless substantial evidence assistance to bring an empty home back Wadworth 10,500.00 879.96 1,026.63 1,173.29 1,319.95 1,613.27 1,906.59 2,199.91 2,639.90 can be provided which confirms the into use or to report a problematic empty 40,000.00 885.69 1,033.31 1,180.93 1,328.54 1,623.77 1,919.00 2,214.23 2,657.08 existence of the occupiers. property please contact the Empty Homes Team on: 01302 737571. Budget information In such cases the production of a tenancy agreement which covers a Doncaster Council has not increased its Council Tax for 2011/2012. period in the past might not be enough and further information may be needed. Any differences in your Council Tax compared to last year will be because your parish precept has changed, or as a result of a change to the equivalent number of Band D properties across Doncaster as a whole, which is used when calculating final charges.

Where the money comes from (£000) Where the money goes (£m)

A Council Tax Payers for council services 1 Adults & Communities 4 Regeneration & Are you having difficulty paying? B Council Tax Payers for Parishes 100.9 Environment C Collection Fund Surplus Doncaster Council has a legal obligation to ensure payments are paid on time, 52.3 D Formula Grant 2 Children & Young it also recognises however, that many taxpayers are facing difficulty in the E Dedicated Schools Grant & People 5 Finance & Corporate current economic climate. other Schools Funding 275.0 Services 15.0 3 Council Wide • Make sure you claim all the discounts •  If you have Council Tax Arrears and 4.4 2010/11 Total 460,477 C and benefit that you are entitled to and find it hard to keep up to date with your A 93,827 B 1,799 that you claim immediately. current bill, ask about renegotiating D C 1,092 E payment terms on your older debt D 143,218 5 4 1 E 220,541 A B • Don’t wait for a reminder or a so that you can keep up to date 3 summons; get advice at the earliest in 2011/12. This may save you the 2011/12 Total 449,536 opportunity. If you don’t, the council financial burden of additional costs. C A 94,112 will have no alternative than to proceed B 1,875 with recovery action. Free debt advice C 1,903 D 2 D 144,940 E There are many local and national E 206,706 A B •  Are you paying over 10 months from organisations that offer free debt advice April to January? Why not spread the for more information go to cost of this by paying over 12 months www.doncaster.gov.uk/debt Spending plans 2010/11 - 2011/12 from April to March.

2010/11 2011/12 • Ask about special arrangements to pay How and when to pay Gross Gross Net Gross Gross Net on any day of the month, you can set Your current bill will tell you how much Expenditure Income Expenditure Expenditure Income Expenditure this up over the phone (£000) (£000) (£000) (£000) (£000) (£000) you need to pay and when. It also shows all payment options which are available. 683,734 249,522 434,212 Council Services 639,031 216,091 422,940 • If you are struggling to pay and want to Direct Debit is the Council’s preferred 21,331 21,331 SY Integrated Transport 21,467 21,467 discuss other options you will be asked payment option as it is cheaper to 2,035 2,035 Rotherham MBC (SYCC debt) 2,100 2,100 to provide details about your income, administer. You can set a Direct Debit up 121 121 SY Pensions Authority 123 123 bills and employment. This helps over the phone on 01302 734454. 82 82 Environment Agency 83 83 Council Tax staff to understand your whole financial situation so they can 897 897 Internal Drainage Boards 948 948 give you the best advice and make an 1,799 1,799 Parish Precepts 1,875 1,875 arrangement that is reasonable. Please 709,999 249,522 460,477 Total 665,627 216,091 449,536 remember that Council Tax is a priority 449 113 336 Thorne-Moorends Town Council 449 102 347 debt as well as other debts such as 283 136 147 Edlington Town Council 195 48 147 your mortgage or rent and utility bills. 199 45 154 Hatfield Town Council 192 33 159 302 98 204 Armthorpe 315 106 209 144 4 140 Sprotbrough and Cusworth 155 0 155