The report of the Director of Finance (Document “AF”) estimates the Council’s Council Tax and Business Rates bases for 2019-20. These bases in turn determine the amount of taxation raised in 2019-20.

Section A of this report estimates the Council Tax Base. This involves considering: total dwellings in the district; exemptions, discounts and the Council Tax Reduction Scheme among others items.

Section B estimates the Business Rates base, starting with the total rateable value of property used by businesses in the district.

Section C summarises the implications of the tax bases for the 2019-20 revenue budget.

Recommended -

(1)       That the number of band D equivalent properties estimated by the Council as the Council Tax Base for 2019-20 for the whole of the Bradford Metropolitan District is 142,200 as set out in Appendix A of Document “AF”.

(2)       The Council Tax Base for 2019-20 for each Local Council is set             out in             Appendix B of Document “AF”.

(3)       In 2019-20, Bradford will provide a grant of £0.161m to Local Councils as compensation for the cost of Council Tax Reduction.

(4)       The amount provisionally estimated by the Council as the Business Rates income for 2019-20 as included on the Council’s NDR1 return (Appendix B1) is £130.5m:

(5)       Of the total Business Rates income;-

24% is paid to Central Government - £31.4m

1%   is paid to the West Yorkshire Fire Authority - £1.3m

74% is retained by the Council - £97.8m

A further cost of collection allowance is paid to the Council of £0.7m.

(6)       That authority is delegated to the Section 151 in consultation with the Leader of the Council to make any necessary amendments to the calculation of the Business Rates estimate arising from the completion of the 2019-20 NDR1 form received from the Government and to include the amended figures in the 2019-20 Budget papers for Council.

(7)       That remaining unused amounts of the Council Tax and Business Rates earmarked reserves are held to smooth out taxation income for future years.

(Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee)

                                                            (Martin Stubbs – 01274 432056)

Resolved -

(1)       That the number of band D equivalent properties estimated by the Council as the Council Tax Base for 2019-20 for the whole of the Bradford Metropolitan District is 142,200 as set out in Appendix A of Document “AF”.

(2)       The Council Tax Base for 2019-20 for each Local Council is set             out in             Appendix B of Document “AF”.

(3)       In 2019-20, Bradford will provide a grant of £0.161m to Local Councils as compensation for the cost of Council Tax Reduction.

(4)       The amount provisionally estimated by the Council as the Business Rates income for 2019-20 as included on the Council’s NDR1 return (Appendix B1) is £130.5m:

(5)       Of the total Business Rates income;-

24% is paid to Central Government - £31.4m

1%   is paid to the West Yorkshire Fire Authority - £1.3m

74% is retained by the Council - £97.8m

A further cost of collection allowance is paid to the Council of £0.7m.

(6)       That authority is delegated to the Section 151 Officer in consultation with the Leader of the Council to make any necessary amendments to the calculation of the Business Rates estimate arising from the completion of the 2019-20 NDR1 form received from the Government and to include the amended figures in the 2019-20 Budget papers for Council.

(7)       That remaining unused amounts of the Council Tax and Business Rates earmarked reserves are held to smooth out taxation income for future years.

Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee

ACTON:         Director of Finance

The report of the Director of Finance (Document “AF”) estimated the Council’s Council Tax and Business Rates bases for 2019-20. These bases in turn determined the amount of taxation raised in 2019-20.

Section A of the report estimated the Council Tax Base. This involved considering: total dwellings in the district; exemptions, discounts and the Council Tax Reduction Scheme among other items.

Section B estimated the Business Rates base, starting with the total rateable value of property used by businesses in the district.

Section C summarised the implications of the tax bases for the 2019-20 revenue budget.

The Director of Finance advised members that Bradford had been successful in joining a 2019-20 Business Rates Pilot in which it would retain 74% share of the Business Rates.  It was pointed out that the pilot included authorities in both West and North Yorkshire.

The Director of Finance highlighted that the overall position regarding business rates showed that the funding position for 2019-20, including the relevant elements was £183.7m which was an improvement of £3.7m over the previously reported position.  The Leader noted that assumptions could not be made regarding future years and called on the Government for more certainty regarding finances in future years.

Resolved -

(1)       That the number of band D equivalent properties estimated by the Council as the Council Tax Base for 2019-20 for the whole of the Bradford Metropolitan District is 142,200 as set out in Appendix A of Document “AF”.

(2)       The Council Tax Base for 2019-20 for each Local Council is set             out in             Appendix B of Document “AF”.

(3)       In 2019-20, Bradford will provide a grant of £0.161m to Local Councils as compensation for the cost of Council Tax Reduction.

(4)       The amount provisionally estimated by the Council as the Business Rates income for 2019-20 as included on the Council’s NDR1 return (Appendix B1) is £130.5m:

(5)       Of the total Business Rates income;-

24% is paid to Central Government - £31.4m

1%   is paid to the West Yorkshire Fire Authority - £1.3m

74% is retained by the Council - £97.8m

A further cost of collection allowance is paid to the Council of £0.7m.

(6)       That authority is delegated to the Section 151 Officer in consultation with the Leader of the Council to make any necessary amendments to the calculation of the Business Rates estimate arising from the completion of the 2019-20 NDR1 form received from the Government and to include the amended figures in the 2019-20 Budget papers for Council.

(7)       That remaining unused amounts of the Council Tax and Business Rates earmarked reserves are held to smooth out taxation income for future years.

Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee

ACTON:         Director of Finance