Your Council Tax
Contents
What is Council Tax and who pays it?
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What is Council Tax and who pays it?
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How we set your Council Tax
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Where your money goes
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Your Council Tax by Parish or Town 2014 - 15
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Council Tax banding FAQs
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How to pay your Council Tax
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Discounts & Exemptions
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Council Tax Reduction
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Regeneration in North Nottinghamshire
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AB
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Getting help and contacting us
The Police, fire and local services provided by County and District councils are paid for by Council Tax and Government grants, and in some cases, through charges for services. Council Tax is an annual charge based on property values and, in this area, is collected by Bassetlaw District Council on behalf of all four organisations.
The Council identifies who is liable to pay Council Tax and sends out a bill every year in March. This can be paid over 10 or 12 instalments.
Council Tax payment is the responsibility of owner-occupiers or, if rented, council tenants, private tenants and tenants of
housing associations. Council Tax is also due
on unoccupied and unfurnished dwellings. Discounts on empty property changed from 1st April 2013 and these are explained in more detail on page 12.
Another change in 2013 was a new discount scheme for people on low incomes. Over 10,200 Bassetlaw households qualified for Council Tax reduction in its first year, but everyone pays a contribution to their Council Tax if they are working-age. This was part of Government Welfare Reforms. More information about Council Tax Reduction is on page 14. The amount of Council Tax for each dwelling depends on the valuation band a property has been placed in by the Government’s Valuation Office Agency. This is explained more on page 10.
Where your money is spent?
Based on a Band A property, the following table shows how much of your Council Tax goes to each authority.
Band A comparison
Nottinghamshire
County Council
Bassetlaw District
Council
Notts Police
Notts Fire and
Rescue Service
Total
Last year
2013/14
£795.45
£101.88
£113.10
£46.46
£1,056.89
This year
2014/15
£811.28
£103.41
£115.32
£47.37
£1,077.38
The %
increase
1.99%
1.50%
1.96%
1.96%
1.94%
Council Tax Requirement
We divide the total requirement by the total number of chargeable dwellings due to pay, (shown as average band D dwellings). This is known as the tax base and for Bassetlaw, this was approved at
31,893.84 Band D dwellings. This tells us the charge for an average band D property from which we work
out the charge for other bands (see the % charges for other bands on page 10)
Example £52,448,405 divided by 31,893.84 = £1,644.47 charge for band D property
How we set your Council Tax
How Bassetlaw District Council sets your Council Tax
We first work out the Council’s budget requirement for 2014/15 (how much we need to run the services that Bassetlaw District Council provides)
How the £14,998 million links to the Council Tax charge for 2014/15
We deduct any other grants we receive from the £14,998 million net budget requirement above to arrive at a net amount we need to raise from Council Tax for the district services.
We then ask Notts County Council, the Police Authority, the Fire Service and the 49 parish councils in the district, what their budget requirements are for 2014/15 and add these together to arrive at a total we need to collect through Council Tax. (Information about these services and their charges can be found on their websites), please see the links on page 7.
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Services provided by Gross Net Net Expenditure
Bassetlaw District Council Expenditure Expenditure 2013/14
£ £ £
Economic Regeneration 1,923,200 1,285,500 1,153,400
Planning & Building Control 2,514,800 1,117,200 1,443,400
Community Prosperity 4,438,000 2,402,700 2,596,800
Chief Executive Department 1,316,700 204,600 224,700
Corporate Management 1,017,400 674,800 785,100
Environment 7,743,500 4,189,400 4,126,800
Finance and Property 5,214,100 383,900 791,800
Housing 1,808,900 1,082,000 1,278,900
Leisure 3,491,900 2,949,700 2,981,900
Policy & Community Engagement 1,804,700 1,278,900 1,160,600
Revenues and Customer Services 34,044,800 839,300 867,900
Support Services 2,841,300 43,800 143,700
SERVICE TOTAL 63,721,300 14,049,100 14,958,200
Other budgets 4,591,000 1,102,900 1,001,700
Transfer to (+) from (-) reserves 0 -153,600 0
BUDGET REQUIREMENT 68,312,300 14,998,400 15,959,900
Council Tax
Band D Household
£ £
Budget requirement for Bassetlaw DC 14,998,400 470.26
Take off Revenue Support Grant -4,094,400 -128.38 Take off Retained Business Rates -3,341,500 -104.77 Take off New Homes Bonus Grant -1,246,100 -39.07 Take off Capital Grants recieved -300,000 -9.41 Take off Parish Councils and Charter Trustees -906,000 -28.41 Take off Localism Act Grants -16,400 -0.51
Take off New Burdens (Council Tax Benefit Set-up Grant) -86,000 -2.70
Take off Collection Fund surplus -60,900 -1.91 Basetlaw D.C’s “bottom line” (rounded) 4,947,100 155.11
Total Shown as
Required Band D Household
£ £
Bassetlaw District Council 4,947,100 155.11
Total Parish requirement (49 precepts) 906,000 28.41 Nottinghamshire County Council 38,812,252 1,216.92 Nottinghamshire Police Authority 5,516,996 172.98 Combined Fire Authority 2,266,057 71.05
Overall Council Tax requirement 2014/15 52,448,405 1,644.47
What are the significant changes?
Our planned expenditure for last year 2013/14 was £15,960 million. Significant changes are as shown in the table below
£’ 000
Reduced employee costs (inc voluntary redundancies,
deletion of vacant posts, changes to NI) -279.00 Increased pension including auto-enrolment 52.00
Cost of implementing Living Wage 25.00 Economic climate effect on income 72.00
Efficiency savings -523.00
Decreased interest and borrowing costs -206.00
Increased Council Tax income -147.00
Payroll Inflation 44.00
Sub total -962.00
This gives a total of £14.998 million for 2014/15
Where your money goes
Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner:
● is elected to represent the public and hold the police to account
● sets the budget alongside local police and crime priorities
● sets the amount of council tax paid towards policing
● publishes a five-year plan to meet local objectives
● puts the need of victims first
● consults local people, ensuring action is taken in response
● appoints – and if necessary dismisses – the Chief Constable
● works with partner agencies to tackle crime and reoffending
● ensures resources are available to balance local and national threats to public safety ● ensures value for money.
Bassetlaw District Council
Bassetlaw District Council provides important local services to its citizens, residents,businesses, charities and voluntary groups. Services include:
● Community Safety, CCTV, tackling anti social
behaviour
● Collection of household and trade waste,
recycling and street sweeping
● Leisure, parks and sports centres
● Sheltered wardens schemes for the elderly ● Planning and development control, licensing
and running local and national elections
● Car parks, tourism and markets
● Grants to support voluntary sector services eg
CAB
● Economic regeneration, attracting businesses
and jobs
● Environmental health, public health, food
hygiene and pest control
● Housing needs, Housing Benefit and Council
Tax discounts.
Nottinghamshire County Council
The Council provides a wide range of services, including:
● Adult social care and day centres ● County parks and libraries
● Fostering and adoption ● Children’s centres
● Homecare and extra care for older people ● Landscaped public areas and cycleways ● Bridleways, footpaths and rights of way ● Public transport and pocket park and rides ● Register offices
● Road maintenance, gritting and street lighting ● Household waste and recycling centres and
refuse disposal
● Secondary and primary schools and school
crossing patrol
● The arts ● Public health
● Customer service centres ● Trading standards
● Youth clubs and activities
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Nottinghamshire Fire Service £4.40 (£4.40)
Nottinghamshire Police £10.70 (£10.70)
Bassetlaw District Council £9.60 (£9.64)
Nottinghamshire County Council £75.30 (£75.26)
The figures exclude parish charges.
Where each £100 of your Council Tax goes
(last year’s comparison is in brackets)
Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner
t: 0300 300 9999
Ext 801 2005
Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue
Service t: 0115 967 0880 Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service:
● works with people to prevent fires and
accidents happening, with a particular focus on those who are high risk
● works with businesses to help them keep their
staff, customers and property safe from fire
● provides an emergency fire and rescue
service using the best equipment possible
● plans the frontline response it will deliver in
the event of major incidents
● recruits, trains and develops its staff to a
high standard and keeps them safe at work
● manages its business and resources well, in
order to provide a value-for-money service
Bassetlaw District Council t: 01909 533533 Nottinghamshire County Council t: 0300 500 80 80
Who does what?
Detailed Council Tax information for
Nottinghamshire County Council is available at www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/counciltax.
To request a paper copy,
please telephone 0300 500 80 80 or email
enquiries@nottsscc.gov.uk
Detailed Council Tax information for Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue service is available at
www.notts-fire.gov.uk/counciltax.asp e: enquiries@notts-fire.gov.uk
Detailed Council Tax information for
Nottinghamshire Police & Crime Commissioner is available at http://www.nottinghamshire.pcc.police.uk/Document-Library/Money/Council-Tax-Information-2014-2015.pdf 4.4% 9.6% 10.7% 75.3%
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Your Council Tax by Parish & Town 2014-15
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The charges shown opposite are based on TWO adult residents.
If only ONE resident, a 25% discount applies. (Council Taxes
shown here include Bassetlaw DC, Nottinghamshire Police, Combined Fire Authority and Parish)
If you live in parts of the Bassetlaw District where no parish levy applies, the last but one line of the table relates to you.
This covers residents in Askham; Bole; Carburton; Clumber and Hardwick;
Haughton; Scaftworth; Wallingwells; West
Burton Budget of Harworth 2014/15 2013/14
Bircotes Town Council £ £
Precept 199,000 199,000 Other income 109,950 86,026 Expenditure 308,950 285,026
199,000
Amount of
Precept Parish Levy at Band 'D' Parish/Town A B C D E F G H 2014/15 £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ Babworth 1,091.61 1,273.54 1,455.49 1,637.41 2,001.28 2,365.15 2,729.02 3,274.82 4,711 4,026 21.35 Barnby Moor 1,095.51 1,278.09 1,460.69 1,643.26 2,008.43 2,373.60 2,738.77 3,286.52 2,961 2,503 27.20 Beckingham-cum-Saundby 1,104.23 1,288.25 1,472.31 1,656.33 2,024.41 2,392.48 2,760.56 3,312.66 18,886 17,405 40.27 Blyth 1,113.93 1,299.58 1,485.25 1,670.89 2,042.20 2,413.51 2,784.82 3,341.78 25,635 25,745 54.83 Bothamsall 1,084.70 1,265.47 1,446.27 1,627.04 1,988.61 2,350.17 2,711.74 3,254.08 1,000 1,000 10.98 Carlton in Lindrick 1,140.71 1,330.82 1,520.95 1,711.06 2,091.30 2,471.53 2,851.77 3,422.12 148,014 88,722 95.00 Clarborough & Welham 1,103.87 1,287.84 1,471.83 1,655.80 2,023.76 2,391.71 2,759.67 3,311.60 15,000 15,000 39.74 Clayworth 1,105.91 1,290.21 1,474.55 1,658.85 2,027.49 2,396.12 2,764.76 3,317.70 5,900 5,543 42.79 Cuckney 1,134.21 1,323.24 1,512.29 1,701.31 2,079.38 2,457.45 2,835.52 3,402.62 6,438 6,374 85.25 Dunham on Trent with Ragnall, Fledborough and Darlton 1,108.02 1,292.68 1,477.36 1,662.02 2,031.36 2,400.70 2,770.04 3,324.04 9,488 7,738 45.96 East Drayton 1,096.91 1,279.71 1,462.55 1,645.35 2,010.99 2,376.62 2,742.26 3,290.70 3,194 3,055 29.29 East Markham 1,102.80 1,286.59 1,470.40 1,654.19 2,021.79 2,389.39 2,756.99 3,308.38 17,328 16,972 38.13 East Retford Charter Trustees 1,078.33 1,258.04 1,437.78 1,617.49 1,976.94 2,336.38 2,695.82 3,234.98 8,924 8,771 1.43 Elkesley 1,115.35 1,301.23 1,487.14 1,673.02 2,044.81 2,416.59 2,788.37 3,346.04 12,485 12,362 56.96 Everton 1,099.91 1,283.21 1,466.55 1,649.85 2,016.49 2,383.12 2,749.76 3,299.70 11,650 11,500 33.79 Gamston with West Drayton & Eaton 1,094.70 1,277.14 1,459.60 1,642.04 2,006.94 2,371.84 2,736.74 3,284.08 6,283 6,210 25.98 Gringley-on-the Hill 1,119.97 1,306.62 1,493.30 1,679.95 2,053.28 2,426.60 2,799.92 3,359.90 18,983 18,983 63.89 Harworth & Bircotes 1,152.87 1,345.00 1,537.16 1,729.29 2,113.58 2,497.86 2,882.16 3,458.58 199,000 113.23 Hayton 1,106.15 1,290.50 1,474.87 1,659.22 2,027.94 2,396.65 2,765.37 3,318.44 6,637 6,588 43.16 Headon-cum-Upton with Grove & Stokeham 1,093.34 1,275.55 1,457.79 1,640.00 2,004.45 2,368.89 2,733.34 3,280.00 3,407 3,490 23.94 Hodsock 1,120.21 1,306.89 1,493.61 1,680.30 2,053.71 2,427.10 2,800.51 3,360.60 33,018 25,379 64.24 Holbeck & Welbeck 1,095.96 1,278.61 1,461.28 1,643.93 2,009.25 2,374.57 2,739.89 3,287.86 3,438 3,043 27.87 Laneham 1,102.39 1,286.10 1,469.85 1,653.57 2,021.04 2,388.49 2,755.96 3,307.14 5,058 5,009 37.51 Lound 1,094.88 1,277.35 1,459.84 1,642.31 2,007.27 2,372.23 2,737.19 3,284.62 4,934 3,882 26.25 Markham Clinton 1,100.39 1,283.78 1,467.19 1,650.58 2,017.38 2,384.17 2,750.97 3,301.16 3,140 3,140 34.52 Mattersey 1,098.19 1,281.21 1,464.26 1,647.28 2,013.35 2,379.41 2,745.47 3,294.56 7,143 4,582 31.22 Misson 1,101.44 1,285.00 1,468.59 1,652.15 2,019.30 2,386.44 2,753.59 3,304.30 9,394 9,210 36.09 Misterton 1,127.37 1,315.25 1,503.16 1,691.04 2,066.83 2,442.61 2,818.41 3,382.08 51,000 51,000 74.98 Nether Langwith 1,115.23 1,301.08 1,486.97 1,672.83 2,044.58 2,416.31 2,788.06 3,345.66 7,587 6,136 56.77 Normanton-on-Trent with Marnham 1,092.61 1,274.70 1,456.82 1,638.91 2,003.12 2,367.32 2,731.52 3,277.82 4,258 4,092 22.85 North Leverton with Habblesthorpe 1,116.16 1,302.17 1,488.22 1,674.23 2,046.29 2,418.33 2,790.39 3,348.46 18,878 18,000 58.17 North and South Wheatley 1,126.87 1,314.66 1,502.49 1,690.29 2,065.92 2,441.53 2,817.16 3,380.58 19,059 18,758 74.23 Norton 1,090.55 1,272.29 1,454.07 1,635.81 1,999.33 2,362.84 2,726.36 3,271.62 926 960 19.75 Rampton 1,091.52 1,273.43 1,455.36 1,637.27 2,001.11 2,364.95 2,728.79 3,274.54 5,571 5,967 21.21 Ranskill 1,100.40 1,283.79 1,467.20 1,650.59 2,017.39 2,384.19 2,750.99 3,301.18 16,700 16,700 34.53 Rhodesia 1,093.69 1,275.95 1,458.25 1,640.52 2,005.09 2,369.64 2,734.21 3,281.04 5,000 4,150 24.46 Scrooby 1,100.54 1,283.95 1,467.39 1,650.80 2,017.65 2,384.49 2,751.34 3,301.60 4,396 3,850 34.74 Shireoaks 1,095.77 1,278.39 1,461.03 1,643.65 2,008.91 2,374.16 2,739.42 3,287.30 12,383 11,076 27.59 South Leverton 1,105.09 1,289.26 1,473.46 1,657.63 2,026.00 2,394.36 2,762.72 3,315.26 7,832 6,754 41.57 Sturton-le-Steeple 1,126.71 1,314.49 1,502.29 1,690.06 2,065.63 2,441.20 2,816.77 3,380.12 13,562 11,895 74.00 Styrrup with Oldcotes 1,116.18 1,302.20 1,488.24 1,674.26 2,046.32 2,418.38 2,790.44 3,348.52 13,629 12,632 58.20 Sutton 1,105.91 1,290.21 1,474.55 1,658.85 2,027.49 2,396.12 2,764.76 3,317.70 10,741 10,587 42.79 Torworth 1,111.16 1,296.34 1,481.55 1,666.73 2,037.12 2,407.50 2,777.89 3,333.46 4,033 3,433 50.67 Treswell-with-Cottam 1,089.23 1,270.76 1,452.31 1,633.84 1,996.92 2,359.99 2,723.07 3,267.68 2,146 2,146 17.78 Tuxford 1,158.61 1,351.69 1,544.81 1,737.90 2,124.11 2,510.30 2,896.51 3,475.80 90,261 72,481 121.84 Walkeringham 1,111.19 1,296.38 1,481.59 1,666.78 2,037.18 2,407.57 2,777.97 3,333.56 16,900 14,634 50.72 West Stockwith 1,114.04 1,299.70 1,485.39 1,671.05 2,042.40 2,413.74 2,785.09 3,342.10 6,016 4,278 54.99 Wiseton 1,086.62 1,267.71 1,448.83 1,629.92 1,992.13 2,354.33 2,716.54 3,259.84 539 400 13.86 Worksop Charter Trustees 1,077.53 1,257.11 1,436.71 1,616.29 1,975.47 2,334.64 2,693.82 3,232.58 2,531 2,276 0.23 All other parts of Bassetlaw 2014/15 1,077.38 1,256.93 1,436.51 1,616.06 1,975.19 2,334.31 2,693.44 3,232.12
Council Tax banding FAQs
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How to pay your Council Tax
Direct Debit
Direct Debit offers you a choice of dates each month, plus 10 or 12 months options. You can sign up for Direct Debit over the telephone on 01909
533234 or return a completed instruction by post.
You will also soon be able to set up a Direct Debit online. Over 31,000 households in Bassetlaw now use Direct Debit for Council Tax payment. You can pay your usual instalment in the month and even over 12 months, or weekly every Friday.
Post Office
Bill payers can pay at any UK Post Office (free of charge) by using the barcode on your bill. Take the bill and your payment to the Post Office who will issue you with a receipt. Cheques should be made payable to “Post Office Ltd”.
Pay Point
You can pay your Council Tax (free of charge) at any PayPoint outlet. Simply hand over your bill and cash payment and you will be given a receipt.
Internet
Pay by Debit or Credit Card through www.
bassetlaw.gov.uk. Click the link to online payments.
24 hour telephone payment
Pay by Direct Debit or Credit Card.
Please telephone 01777 713864 for this automated line and have your details ready. This line operates using voice recognition answers or easy push button.
By Post
Send your cheque (not cash) to Bassetlaw District Council, Queen’s Buildings, Potter Street, Worksop, S80 2AH. Cheques should be made payable to Bassetlaw District Council. Always put your bill reference or name and address on the back of your cheque and state “CTAX”.
Other ways to pay include payment in person at Council offices where we take cheque and credit card payments only (Worksop and Retford One Council Tax can be paid over 12 or 10 monthly instalments, due from 1st April. Instalment plans paid over 12 months
run from 1st April to 1st March and 10 month plans run
from 1st April to 1st January. Please contact the Council
Tax Helpline number by 14th April if you are not already on
a 12 month instalment plan and would like to change to one. If you need to budget weekly, we can offer a weekly payment plan by Direct Debit, please contact the Council Tax Helpline on (01909) 533234 for more details. Further details can also be found on the Council’s website at www.bassetlaw.gov.uk.
Where an instalment payment is not paid by the due date, a reminder may be issued. This could escalate quickly into a summons. Government rules limit the number of times a missing payment can be caught up before the whole bill becomes payable at once. For more information about what happens if you don’t pay visit the Council Tax pages at www.bassetlaw.gov.uk.
If you have difficulty making payment, please contact us as soon as possible.
Spread your payments
PAY YOUR COUNCIL TAX BY DIRECT DEBIT AND SPREAD THE COST OVER 10 OR 12 MONTHS
Your Council Tax bill can be spread over 12 interest-free monthly instalments from April 2014, if you pay by Direct Debit.
Your Council Tax payments are normally due on the first of the month. However, if you sign up to Direct Debit you can choose from five payment dates each month to suit you.
You can even set up a weekly Direct Debit for every Friday.
If you would like to pay by Direct Debit, please complete the form overleaf or contact our Council Tax Team on 01909 533 234 and one of our advisors will be happy to set up a Direct Debit for you.
Our monthly Direct Debit dates are:
Direct Debit Dates
S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
What do others pay in Council Tax compared with band A?
Generally, the higher the band, the higher the Council Tax payable. The relationship to Band A for 2014/15 is shown in the diagram below.
£1,077.53
The fractions shown above are set by the
Government and do not change from year to year.
Can I appeal against my Council Tax band?
Existing occupiers may need to show that there has been a material change to the dwelling or in the physical state of the locality. New occupiers have six months from moving in to lodge an appeal. Appeals are to the VOA.
Valuation Office Agency,
Listing Officer, Council Tax East, Ground Floor, Ferrers House Castle Meadow Road, Nottingham, NG2 1AB 03000 501 501
cteast@voa.gsi.gov.uk www.voa.gov.uk www.gov.uk/council-taxappeals/challenge-your-band
Making an appeal does not allow you to stop payment. If an appeal is successful, you will be entitled to a refund of any overpayment.
Please note - You do not need to employ an agent to act on your behalf. Agents often charge high fees based on a percentage of any refund you may receive as a result of a successful banding appeal.
Why is my house placed in a particular Council Tax band?
The Government’s Valuation Office Agency (VOA) has placed all homes in our area in one of eight broad valuation bands. The valuation band is based on the market value of the dwelling in 1991. These values and totals are shown in the table below, for 2014/15.
No. of homes
The basis for your Council Tax band is the market value range at 1991 prices. These ranges are fixed by the Government and have not changed since ths start of Council Tax in 1993. Bassetlaw District Council is not responsible for the valuations as this is done by the VOA.
A £ Bx Cx Dx Ex Fx Gx Hx 116 113 112 156 216 212 3 Band A Up to £40,000 26,232 Band B £40,001 to £52,000 7,493 Band C £52,001 to £68,000 6,066 Band D £68,001 to £88,000 5,860 Band E £88,001 to £120,000 2,968 Band F £120,001 to £160,000 1,373 Band G £160,001 to £320,000 687 Band H Over £320,000 55
Total number of dwellings
(as at November 2013) 50,734
Not everyone has to pay the full Council Tax set out on the centre pages. There are a number of ways that the bill can be reduced, these are detailed below.
Single occupier discount
A household with one adult occupier (over the age 18 yrs) is entitled to a 25% discount. This is not a means tested discount, it is given where there is only one adult resident.
The Council will check discount claims with third party records to make sure that they are accurate. The Council may share personal information you have supplied for Council Tax with other council departments, the Police and other public bodies if this relates to the prevention of crime or fraud or the recovery of debt.
Other discounts
Even where there are two or more adults, you could still get the 25% discount. For example, in a two adult household, one of the adults may not count for Council Tax if he or she is exempt. Exempt residents include people who are:
● Full time students and apprentices
● 18 or 19 year olds where Child Benefit is in
payment
● Full time carers
● Severely mentally impaired, which could
include severe dementia sufferers
Family annexe discount
From 1st April 2014 a 50% discount will be
available for people who live in an annexe
providing it forms part of one single property with another dwelling and if they are related to the residents in the main dwelling.
There are certain categories of family members who may qualify for this discount. This discount will also apply for people living in dwellings with annexes which are unoccupied provided they are using those annexes as part of their main residence.
Exempt dwellings
Some unoccupied dwellings are exempt from payment, for example dwellings where the resident has died are exempt until probate has been
granted and dwellings left unoccupied because the resident has moved into a care home. Some occupied dwellings can also be exempt from payment and these include dwellings that are occupied only by students and dwellings occupied only by residents who are severely mentally impaired.
Empty dwelling discounts
The table on the opposite page shows the empty dwelling discounts that apply when a dwelling becomes unoccupied.
Please note – The above discounts apply to the
property; a change in ownership does not trigger a fresh period of entitlement to the above discounts. The discounts apply from the date on which the dwelling becomes empty.
Dwellings which are furnished but unoccupied are known as ‘second homes’ , they are billed at the full rate; there is no discount for these dwellings.
People with disabilities
If your household includes a person with a disability, you may get an adjustment to your Council Tax valuation band. This applies where the dwelling has a room or extra kitchen or extra bathroom to help meet the needs of a disabled person. If there is extra space indoors to allow the use of a wheelchair this may also mean that a reduction is granted.
The reduction is granted by charging Council Tax based on the next lowest band. Even if your household is in Band A, you can still apply for this reduction.
Discounts & Exemptions
Empty Dwelling Discounts
Empty dwelling premium charge
A 50% additional charge is added to the Council Tax bill on dwellings when they have been empty for two years.
More information about the full range of discounts and empty/occupied dwelling exemptions are shown on the Council Tax pages at www.bassetlaw.gov.uk or contact us on our helpline number – (01909) 533324. Amount of discount/ charge 100% 25% 0% 75%
How long does the discount/premium apply for? Up to 1 month Up to 5 months. This period follows on from the 1 month 100% discount period. No discount is given after the above 6 month period.
Up to 12 months
What happens after the discount period has expired?
A further discount may apply if the dwelling remains empty. See below
Up to 5 months. This period follows on from the 1 month 100% discount period. No discount is given after the above 6 month period.
This discount applies to empty dwellings that are uninhabitable.
Requirements for discount/ premium charge apply
Dwelling must be unoccupied and unfurnished
Dwelling must be unoccupied and unfurnished. No further discount is given after 6 months.
Dwelling must be unoccupied and unfurnished
The dwelling must be unoccupied, unfurnished and in need of or undergoing major repair works to make it habitable.
Regeneration
If you are on a low income and feel you will be unable to meet the monthly payments of your Council Tax, you can apply, to the Council for a Council Tax Reduction assessment. This is very similar to the old Council Tax Benefit which was abolished from April 2013 by the Government’s Welfare Reform changes.
The new Reduction is a discount but it is still means-tested, that is we look at your weekly or monthly income, savings, household details etc to assess whether you are eligible under the local scheme.
A full copy of the Council’s Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme is available on our website if you click on the Benefits/Council Tax Reduction pages.
From 1st April 2013, Council Tax rebate for people on low incomes was replaced with a new discount. All Councils must have in place a new scheme to award discount to people based on the financial need of the household. There is also an entitlement checker on our website so you can work out if you may be entitled. From April 2014, you will also be able to claim Council Tax Reduction online.
The Government has made further cuts to the grant available for Council Tax Reduction, and as a result the most that we can award working age claimants is 90%. Pensioners and working age vulnerable households, such as severely disabled residents, can still get up to 100% as they are protected from the Government Reforms related to Council Tax Schemes. However, if you have over £16,000 in savings or other assets (excluding your home), no discount of this type can be awarded. If you don’t want to claim online or do not have access to the internet at home, please give us a call and we will be able to advise you.
Alternatively, we can send you a paper application form to fill in.
Council Tax Reduction
01909 533 533 15
The economic regeneration of our District is a highpriority for the Council and we are working on several fronts to improve the size of our business base, develop sites for business investment, have a skilled workforce and attract higher value jobs and visitors.
Increasing the business base
In simple terms, we need more businesses to establish, move in and grow. We are, via our ‘Invest in North Nottinghamshire’ project working with leading local businesses to exploit the assets we have- such as our connectivity through transport links, our beautiful countryside- nicely described by someone as having ‘big skies’ and our rich landscape of stories, ranging from Pilgrim Fathers Origins, Robin Hood, the history of the Dukeries and our unique Industrial Heritage.
We strongly believe that we can place the district more prominently on the economic map of this country.
If you are interested in starting your own business we offer a suite of measures to help.
• We have fully trained and experienced business advisors who can show individuals about business planning, marketing, what licenses are required, book keeping and how to access finance.
• We also offer a small grant scheme to assist new businesses in their formative stages. We have also harnessed the skills and experience of the local business community who share their experiences and offer guidance to new start businesses at our Enterprise Club which meets on the first Thursday of each month at Retford Enterprise Centre from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. These local businesses are also mentors to assist in the growth of the new business. We also work closely with a range of business networks where new contacts can be made, informal support of like-minded people can be gained and topical business issues discussed. Added to this, aimed at both new- start and existing businesses, we deliver seminars on subjects such as marketing, social media, how to get money from banks, innovation and skills. We offer a free speedy 48 hour claim service if the
form is fully completed and the relevant evidence of identity, income, savings etc is with the claim and you can come into the Worksop or Retford One-Stop-Shop where it can be checked and verified by a Benefits Officer.
Don’t forget to tell us about changes.
Reduction scheme claimants must tell us about changes to their circumstances. If you think some-one is committing benefit fraud, ring us on 0800 328 6340. You don’t have to say who you are, but give as much information as you can.
We understand that times are difficult for some at the moment, particularly if you are unemployed. If you circumstances are not improving and you are suffering exceptional difficulties in paying your Council Tax, or you have received a reminder, please do not ignore this, contact our support team on 01909 533710 who may be able to help you further.
Reduction
Changes to
Council Tax Benefit
The new Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2014/15
Skills
Whilst the education and training industry is outside of our direct control, we pride ourselves in working closely with partners such as the Local Enterprise Partnerships of Sheffield City region and D2N2. Here we have a proactive approach using the Skills Made Easy programme of directly talking to employers to see what skills their workers need, then finding the right people to deliver it- thus cutting down on time, paperwork and of course finding the right person for the job.
Higher value jobs
North Nottinghamshire for a long time has relied on relatively low skilled manufacturing, which in turn leads to lower than average levels of pay. To help address this imbalance we have a long term strategy to attract, develop and grow businesses where the profits are higher, the skills required are more intense and of course the reward in the pay packet better. To this end we pro-actively encourage more office based businesses, creative industries and innovative activities. We have a full Enterprise Centre in Retford, an innovation Centre at Shireoaks (The Turbine) which is run by the County Council in partnership with BDC plus a Creative Village in Worksop which has been so successful that, within a year of opening we are at an advanced stage in planning to expand.
We are also holding Innovation Workshops to enable new and existing businesses to expand, diversify their product range, look at new markets and improve processes.
Rural and tourism
Of course, the vast majority of our land is rural in nature and was nicely described as one visitor as ‘having big skies’. Whilst this aspect is pleasing on the eye, a modern economy requires these villages and hamlets to be more sustainable in terms
of jobs and services. Transport is of course an issue as is the cost of oil-since most rural homes are not connected to the gas network. Again our partnering approach helps address some of these
issues and our partners RCAN (Rural communities Action Nottinghamshire http://www.rcan.org.uk/ home.php offer a Wheels to Work programme aimed at young people plus a bulk oil scheme where oil is bought in bulk and the discounts shared.
We have successfully operated a Business support and grant scheme (Leader programme) where we obtained over £1.4 million to support rural businesses and are at an advanced stage in securing more funding for the next programme. We also recognise that tourism can offer a further boost to the economy by attracting more visitors to our towns and villages and will be focussing on the birthplace of the Pilgrim Fathers, the unique stories and legends (including Robin Hood) which abound in Bassetlaw and will promote some of the unique industrial heritage assets which helped shape our district over the centuries.
Bassetlaw is a unique place, and probably one of the countries’ best guarded secrets and we are working hard to change that.
For further information please contact Economic.regeneration@bassetlaw.gov.uk 01909 533223
16
www.bassetlaw.gov.uk
01909 533 533 17
Bassetlaw District Council is improving and
updating the way it offers residents and businesses access to council services. From later this year, seven of the most popular council services will appear online on our website, with more to quickly follow.
The new Digital Services have been designed so that they can be easily used from any device to suit you, whether it is a PC, Smartphone, or Tablet, from any location and at any time of the day or night.
These services will be as convenient and easy to use as ordering your “big shop” from the supermarket, or applying for your car tax online. And you won’t have to come into the Council offices, send us paper copies of information, or wait for the Council to call you back or write to you. Your details will be stored securely, so that you
don’t have to type them in every time you request a service from the Council, and you can view and update your information anytime.
All of these and many more services will be available at the touch of a quick and easy to find “Bassetlaw Button.”
All services will still be available by phone or by calling into our offices if you prefer, but we will be happy to show you how or help you to use the new services whenever you visit a Council building.
Regeneration
Coming soon... our new website
To take advantage of the features on the Council’s new website, residents can register for a secure account. This will enable you to view letters sent to you by the Council, look at the balances of accounts as well as making payments for services. Having a secure account also means you will be able to check progress updates on services your have requested, or applications you have made. Your full history of your dealings and transactions with the Council will be available anytime day or night, at the click of a Bassetlaw Button.
Your Bassetlaw Citizen Account - You’re in control
You will be able to access your details and Council services via your account from the comfort of your own home or anywhere you can access the internet.
Safe and secure access to your details 24/7
Register your details and you will be able to access Council Services when the new website goes live. Once registered you won’t have to keep putting in the same details every time you want to contact us. For extra security, when you’ve registered with us, we will send out an account activation code so you can access some of the information we hold about you.
You will be able to:-
• Keep up to date with your benefit claim • Look at your benefit payments
View your Council Tax bills and benefits notification letters Securely store your payment details for quick pay
• Let us know of any change of circumstances
What else can I do online
01909 533 533 19
Bassetlaw Benefits online
To take advantage of the features on the Council’s new website, residents can register for a secure account.
This will enable you to view letters sent to you by the Council, look at the balances of accounts as well as making payments for services. Having a secure account also means you will be able to check progress updates on services your have requested, or applications you have made. Your full history of your dealings and transactions with the Council will be available anytime day or night, at the click of a Bassetlaw Button.
You will be able to claim your Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction
online at home or from wherever you can access the internet. This makes it
easy to claim at a time that suits you.
Nearly 80%of people claiming benefits have said they already use the internet, but you may not feel confident about claiming online. Don’t worry, if you get stuck making your claim there are various ways for you to get
help:-1) Phone our claim helpline on 01909 533710 while you are online and someone will talk you through it
2) Get someone to help you with the claim. (For instance a claim advisor, the Citizens Advice Bureau, your landlord or another support organisation)
If you need further help and advice, face to face and telephone support will still be available from the Council until you can get access to the internet.
What you can do to prepare to claim benefit online.
We need the following information to work out what benefit you are entitled to: 1) Where you live and any housing costs
2) Who lives with you
3) What income / savings you have
4) Any money you pay out such as child care costs
5) If you or anybody who lives with you has any disabilities
Please make sure that you have all the information and documents, including proof of your identity (and your partner’s if you have one). You may need these to hand before you claim but we will tell you what evidence or documents we need to see. In some cases we will be able to accept copies or digital images of these.
What to do after you have claimed.
When you have completed the claim we will tell you what to do next.
In most cases you will be able to provide any further information we need by taking a photo of it and uploading it as part of the claim.
Once we have verified that we have all the information, we will then calculate your entitlement. You don’t need to do anything else.
It’s as straight forward and as easy as that.
