Issue - meetings

To recommend the Council Tax Base for the financial year 2025/26.

Purpose of the report

To explain the Council Tax Base for the financial year 2025/2026.

Decision

That Cabinet recommends to Council a Council Tax Base for 2025/26 of 50,140.5 in accordance with relevant legislation.  This will form the basis on which the Council will estimate Council Tax income for the 2025/26 budget.

Alternative options considered and rejected

No other options had been considered.

Reasons for the decision

Statute required the Council to calculate the Council Tax Base and the timeframe by which this must be completed. The Council was required to inform relevant preceptors of the Council Tax Base by 31 January 2025.

The Council Tax varied between different Council Tax bands according to proportions laid down in legislation. These proportions were based on Band D properties and were fixed so that the bill for a dwelling in Band A would be one third of the bill for a dwelling in Band H. Applying the relevant proportion to each band’s net property base produced the number of Band D equivalent properties for the area. Adjustments were made for the Localised Council Tax Support Scheme and the Empty Property Premium.

The Tax Base growth was 0.86% against the previous year.

The resolution would be used in budget preparations for 2025/2026.