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Issue - meetings

Approval of Council Tax base and 2023/24 Budget Update

 

 

Meeting: 18/01/2023 - Council (Item 43)

43 Approval of Council Tax Base and 2023-2024 Budget Update pdf icon PDF 114 KB

Purpose:

This report provides an update on the developing budget for 2023/24. To consider:

1)    The draft base budgets for 2023/24

2)    Fees and charges for 2023/24

3)    Adoption of the Council Tax Base for 2023/24

4)    The submission of the business rates return

 

Recommendations:

Subject to the decisions of Cabinet on 11 January 2023, Council is recommended to resolve to:

1)    Approve the Council Tax Base shown in Annex G, calculated as £47,078.85 for the year 2023/24

2)    Authorise the Chief Finance Officer to submit the National Non Domestic Rates Return 1 (NNDR1) to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government by the submission date of 31st January 2023

3)    Authorise the Chief Finance Officer to approve the annual uprating of allowances and non-dependent deductions in the Local Council Tax Support Scheme in line with national regulations.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Dan Levy, Cabinet Member for Finance, introduced the report that provided an update on the developing budget for 2023/24. Council was asked to consider:

1) The draft base budgets for 2023-2024;

2) Fees and charges for 2023-2024;

3) Adoption of the Council Tax Base for 2023-2024;

4) The submission of the business rates return.

 

Councillor Levy gave an overview of the current position surrounding the 2023-2024 budget. Councillor Levy highlighted that the Council was now in a position of surplus finance, rather than in a position of deficit, although this still does not keep up with the current levels of Inflation more widely. Councillor Levy also stated that there may be headwinds ahead, and difficult decisions may be forthcoming in the future.

 

Councillor Levy said that there was a direction received from Central Government that Council Tax would need to be raised by a maximum allowed amount. For the West Oxfordshire District, this was £5 on a Band D Property, as the District had a low Council Tax base. Councillor Levy reminded Members that the portion of Council tax that remains within the Council, is indeed low, and most of the funds received are passed on to other precepting authorities.

 

In debate, it was highlighted that there was a pound sign (£) within the first of the recommendations, when this should have just been a number. This was confirmed by the Chief Finance Officer.

A consultation took place surrounding the Council’s budget, and it was widely received that the majority of residents would like to pay less, for a more enhanced service. The consultation was carried out in the appropriate way.

Councillor Levy also highlighted that the direction that came from Central Government regarding the raising of council tax was indeed necessary, and if not followed through, this may hinder opportunities for support on other projects and ideas that the Council may have in the future.

 

Councillor Levy proposed that Council agree the recommendations as set out in the report. This was seconded by Councillor Graham, and was agreed unanimously by Council.

 

Council Resolved to:

1.    Approve the Council Tax Base shown in Annex G, calculated as 47,078.85 for the year 2023-2024;

2.    Authorise the Chief Finance Officer to submit the National Non Domestic Rates Return 1 (NNDR1) to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government by the submission date of 31st January 2023;

3.      Authorise the Chief Finance Officer to approve the annual uprating of allowances and non-dependent deductions in the Local Council Tax Support Scheme in line with national regulations.

Meeting: 11/01/2023 - Cabinet (for meetings after 18 January 2023 see "Executive") (Item 112)

112 Update of 2023/24 Budget pdf icon PDF 113 KB

Purpose:

This report provides an update on the developing budget for 2023/24. To consider:

1)    The draft base budgets for 2023/24

2)    Fees and charges for 2023/24

3)    Adoption of the Council Tax Base for 2023/24

4)    The submission of the business rates return

 

Recommendations:

That Cabinet resolves to:

1)    Approve the draft fees and charges for 2023/24, as detailed in Annex H, for inclusion as part of the Budget recommendations to Council on Wednesday 15th of February 2023

 

And recommend to Council to:

2)    Approve the Council Tax Base shown in Annex G, calculated as £47,078.85 for the year 2023/24

3)    Authorise the Chief Finance Officer to submit the National Non Domestic Rates Return 1 (NNDR1) to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government buy the submission date of 31st January 2023

4)    Authorise the Chief Finance Officer to approve the annual uprating of allowances and non-dependent deductions in the Local Council Tax Support Scheme in line with national regulations.

 

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Dan Levy, Cabinet Member for Finance, introduced the report which provides an update on the developing budget for 2023/24. The report will recommend:

1) The draft base budgets for 2023/24;

2) Fees and charges for 2023/24;

3) Adoption of the Council Tax Base for 2023/24;

4) The submission of the business rates return.

 

Councillor Levy gave an overview on budget update, and thanked those members of the public who had submitted responses to the much publicised Budget Consultation being run by the Council, which was soon to come to a close.

Councillor Levy stated that since the last meeting of Cabinet, the Financial Management Overview and Scrutiny (FMOS) Committee had reviewed the budget proposals, and had mainly gone into detail regarding the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS). Councillor Levy further explained that the MTFS reflects that there is always a danger that business rates could be reviewed, and that wider government funding, such as the New Homes Bonus, may be less generous than previously envisaged.

Councillor Levy set out that very little local income is derived from own fees and charges, as set out in government policy. An example of this being that Council Tax can be raised by no more than 3% or £5. Councillor Levy reassured all Members and attendees that the MTFS is taken extremely seriously by the Council’s administration, and that there may be difficult decisions to be taken in the future.

Councillor Levy summed up by stating that the administration are fully committed to improving services, addressing climate change, and supporting residents across the West Oxfordshire district, and that this is reflected in the priorities outlined in the Council Plan.

Councillor Mathew Parkinson, Cabinet Member for Customer Delivery, asked what the acronym ‘MTFS’ stood for. Councillor Levy responded stating that it was the Medium Term Financial Strategy.

Councillor Harry St. John queried what the acronym ‘MRP’ stood for. The Chief Finance Officer responded by stating that it was the Minimum Revenue Provision; a local government accounting requirement that pays down the value of assets over their life.

A question was raised by Dr. Alan Hearne, a member of the public in attendance, regarding how much money is saved by the Council in outsourcing various pieces of work. Councillor Levy responded stating that the Council has various working partnerships with other organisations, which fall under the Council’s remit through ownership and has delivered savings for the Council. An example of this is the working practise of ‘Ubico’, for the provision of waste collections within the District.

Councillor Levy proposed to agree the update on the 2023/24 Budget. This was seconded by Councillor Andy Graham, and was agreed unanimously by Cabinet.

 

Cabinet Resolved to:

1) Approve the draft fees and charges for 2023/24, as detailed in Annex H, for inclusion as part of the Budget recommendations to Council on Wednesday 15th of February 2023.

And Recommended Council to:

2) Approve the Council Tax Base shown in Annex G, calculated as £47,078.85 for the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 112

 

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