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.