Agenda for Executive Board on Tuesday, 21st January, 2020, 2.00 pm

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Ground Floor Committee Room - Loxley House, Station Street, Nottingham, NG2 3NG

Contact: Kate Morris, Constitutional Services, Tel: 0115 8764353  Email: kate.morris2@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

Note: Unless stated otherwise, all decisions are subject to call-in. The last date for call-in is 29 January 2020. Decisions cannot be implemented until the working day after this date. 

Items
No. Item

72.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

Councillor Sam Webster - Leave

73.

Declarations of interests

Minutes:

None

74.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 150 KB

Last meeting held on 17 December 2019 (for confirmation)

Minutes:

The Board confirmed the minutes of the meeting held on 17 December 2019 as a correct record and they were signed by the Chair.

75.

Council Tax – Determination of the 2020/21 Tax Base pdf icon PDF 251 KB

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Growth and the City Centre

Minutes:

The Board considered the report of the Portfolio Holder for Finance Growth and the City Centre setting out the process and calculation to determine the Council Tax Base for 2020/21. The base figure is used in the calculations of the Council Tax to provide resources and revenue from Council Tax funds service delivery.

 

During discussion, the following points were highlighted:

 

(a)  This year there has been a slight rise in the Council Tax base meaning that the revenue will be slightly higher;

 

(b)  Councillors supported the move to increase the rate for properties left empty and unfurnished for 5 or more years commenting that it would help to bring homes back into use, or create more revenue to be put back into tackling homelessness;

 

(c)  It has not been possible to provide for Board members today the split in the reasons for the exemptions; however, this can be forwarded to members of the committee at their request.

 

RESOLVED to:

 

(1)  To approve a tax base of 67,360 for 2020/21

 

(2)  Agree that a collection rate of 97.5% be used in the determination of the 2020/21 tax base

 

(3)  Determine an increase in the Council Tax Premium levied on long term empty properties that are vacant and unfurnished for over five years from 100% additional Council Tax to 200% from 1st April 2020 as part of these calculations

 

Reasons for decision

The City Council and precepting authorities will use the tax bas figure in their budget processes in February 2020 to determine the level of Council Tax for 2020/21.

 

From 1 April 2020 the Local Government Finance Act 1992 allows the Local Authority to increase the Council Tax Premium on properties empty and unfurnished for over 5 years. By increasing the premium from 100% to 200% it will encourage empty buildings to be brought back into occupation, or will generate additional revenue.

 

Other options considered

The Council is legally required to set a Council Tax base using objective calculations. As such no other options were considered.

76.

Exclusion of the public

To consider excluding the public from the meeting during consideration of the remaining item(s) in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the basis that, having regard to all the circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs in the public interest in disclosing the information

Minutes:

RESOLVED to exclude the public from the meeting during consideration of the remaining items in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the basis that, having regard to all the circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information as defined in paragraphs 3 of part 1, Schedule 12A of the Act.

77.

Exempt Minutes

Exempt minutes of last meeting held on 17 December 2019 (for confirmation)

Minutes:

The Board confirmed the exempt minutes as a true record of the meeting held on 17 December 2019 and they were signed by the Chair.