Issue - meetings

To recommend the Council Tax Base for the financial year 2023/24.

Purpose of report

To recommend the Council Tax Base for the financial year 2023/2024.

Decision

That Cabinet recommended to Full Council the Council Tax Base for 2023/2024 of 49,329 in accordance with the relevant legislation. This would form the basis upon which the Council would estimate Council Tax Income for the 2023/2024 budget.

Alternative options considered and rejected

There were no other options considered – there was a requirement to set a Council Tax base.

Reason for decision

The recommendation would be used in the calculation and Budget preparations for 2023/2024 and was a key component of annual budgeting prescribed in legislation. The Budget report would be presented to Full Council at their meeting on 1 March 2023.

The Council Tax Base for parish purposes was based on the number of properties as at 12 September 2022 and the discounts and exemptions applicable on 3 October 2022. Adjustments were made to allow for the impact of the local Council Tax Support Scheme adopted by the Council, and the empty property premium, which allowed the Council to charge a premium of between 100% and 300%.

The proposed tax base for South Kesteven for 2023/2024 was 49,329 for Band D equivalents, an increase of 1.28% from 2022/2023.

Parish and Town Councils within the District had been contacted and the Band D equivalents for each Parish were documented at Appendix A of the report.