North HertfordshireDistrict Council

“Making North Hertfordshire a vibrant placeto live, work and prosper”

www.north-herts.gov.uk

COUNCIL TAXinformation 2015/16

INTRODUCTION BY LEADER OF THE COUNCIL

North Hertfordshire District Council (NHDC) provides a widerange of services and although you pay all your Council Tax to NHDC, the share we keep is only 14% or the equivalent of £4 per week, or 57 pence per day, for a Band D property.

Every pound collected in Council Tax is split between NHDC,Hertfordshire County Council and the Police and CrimeCommissioner for Hertfordshire (HPCC) as shown below.

The Council has already identified over £11.5million ofsavings over the last ten years in the drive to become moreefficient and enable investment in Council priorities which inturn reflect the priorities of North Hertfordshire’s residents.Much of this has been achieved without having a seriousimpact on front line services but it is clear that to achievefurther significant savings the Council will need to continueto implement and look for alternative ways of working.

Government funding will be over 11% less in 2015/16compared to 2014/15 and is certain to reduce further in thecoming years. Government funding through revenue support grant andbusiness rates in 2010 was around £8m, whereas for 2015/16it will be just under £4.4m. However, Government funding is

provided in a very different way now through the retainedbusiness rates system and so direct comparison is notpossible. The new funding streams, such as New HomesBonus, which is received based on new house building is notincluded in the £4.4m figures quoted.As a result of this ongoing funding reduction NHDC hasreluctantly decided to increase the amount of Council Tax itraises by 1.9% for the financial year 2015/16. The increase is equivalent to £3.88 per year on the annualCouncil Tax bill for a Band D property or just over 7p perweek.

We have continued with our existing Priorities for 2015/16:• Promoting Sustainable Growth• Working with local communities• Living within our meansDetails of the projects we aim to deliver to support thesepriorities are provided in this leaflet.

We have committed to reducing expenditure and generatingincome to save £440,000 in the coming year and more will beneeded in the following years. However, the needs ofresidents and local communities will be uppermost in ourminds as we continue to make the painful but necessaryfinancial decisions in the months and years ahead.

Despite the tough economic climate, we have committed toinvesting approximately £11million in key capital projects inthe coming year, which include a significant amount ofinvestment in North Herts Leisure Centre in Letchworth,delivery of a number of projects outlined in the Council’sGreen Space Strategy and will continue with the Regenerationof John Barker Place and the development of a new DistrictMuseum and community facility in Hitchin. Further change isinevitable and so we will continue to examine how we canwork more efficiently or do things differently, such as bysharing services with other councils or organisations.

I hope you will find the information in this leaflet useful.

Cllr Lynda Needham, Leader of the Council

Herts

County Council (76p)

HPCC (10p)

NHDC

(14p

)

COUNCIL TAX BANDING

Cultural &Related Services

269,120

112,090

115,630

16,100

153,490

95,990OtherServices

20,260Council Tax Reduction Scheme

Total 409,850409,850

28,640 - 28,640

257,860Precept

278,120

GrossExpenditure

Gross Income

NetExpenditure

ROYSTON TOWN COUNCIL BUDGET DETAILS 2015-2016

Environmental &Regulatory Services

Band A £138.67

£161.79

£184.90

£760.73

£887.51

£98.55

£114.97

£131.40

Band B

Band C

£997.95

£1,164.27

£1,330.60

£208.01 £1,141.09 £147.82Band D £1,496.92

£254.23 £1,394.67 £180.67Band E £1,829.57

£300.46 £1,648.24 £213.52Band F £2,162.22

£346.68 £1,901.82 £246.37Band G £2,494.87

£416.02 £2,282.18 £295.64Band H £2,993.84

District Police TOTALCounty

COUNCIL TAX LEVELS 2015/16

Band A up to £40,000

£40,001 to £52,000

£52,001 to £68,000

Band B

Band C

£68,001 to £88,000Band D

£88,001 to £120,000Band E

£120,001 to £160,000Band F

£160,001 to £320,000Band G

Over £320,000Band H

ValueBandings

COUNCIL TAX BANDINGS (BASED ON THE 1990 VALUATION)

District 1.90%

1.99%

0%

County

Police

1.78%TOTALS

COUNCIL TAXINCREASE FROM2014/15 TO 2015/16

PARISH/COMMUNITY/TOWN COUNCIL AREAS

If you live in an area with a Parish, Community or TownCouncil, the following amounts will be added to yourCouncil Tax bills for an equivalent Band D property.

Band D £

Ashwell 60.50

Barkway 98.28

Barley 66.86

Bygrave 40.79

Caldecote & Newnham 27.67

Clothall 21.61

Codicote 63.08

Graveley 30.80

Great Ashby 8.43

Hexton 0

Hinxworth 66.07

Holwell 51.72

Ickleford 53.30

Kelshall 36.68

Kimpton 71.13

Kings Walden 65.48

Knebworth 69.47

Langley 0

Band D £

Letchworth 0

Lilley 39.64

Nuthamstead 0

Offley 47.72

Pirton 55.84

Preston 29.63

Radwell 14.61

Reed 26.69

Royston 42.18

Rushden & Wallington 18.54

St. Ippolyts 22.31

St. Pauls Walden 67.34

Sandon 27.19

Therfield 21.31

Weston 39.00

Wymondley 58.43

The following relates to Royston Town Council

WHAT DO WE DO?

We deliver a wide range of services including the following:

• Provide three key leisure facilities, North Herts LeisureCentre, Hitchin Swim Centre and Royston Leisure Centre. In addition we run the Letchworth outdoor pool andmanage the sports hall at Fearnhill School.These facilities had over 1.2 million visits in 2013/14.

• Collection of refuse and recycling from nearly 56,000households. Our household recycling rate is one of thebest in the country and we have achieved over 60%recycling in 2014/15.

• Provide information and advice about housing to everyone, including people who are homeless or at risk ofbecoming homeless.

• Participate in the Local Authority Mortgage Scheme whichhas assisted over 29 first time buyers to purchase aproperty in the North Hertfordshire Area.

• Provide and maintain parks and open spaces for all toenjoy, such as the recently renovated Howard Park andGardens and nature reserves at Oughtonhead Commonand Claypit Hill in Great Ashby.

• Provide support to voluntary groups by grant funds to organisations such as the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)

• Deal with over 2400 Planning Applications per annum and8,100 building control applications.

• Collect Council Tax and deal with over 7,000 Housing Benefit claims.

• Ensure public health is maintained by carrying out 400food safety inspections and investigating 6000 noisenuisance complaints each year.

• Enable people to stay in their own homes by providingdisabled facility grants and operating a community alarmsservice (Careline) www.care-line.co.uk

£1,014.30

• Dispose of surplus Council land that can bedeveloped to provide new homes and generateCapital sums to fund key projects

• Following the construction of a new Westmill Community Centre, John Barker Placeregeneration will commence to rebuild the shops,provide additional affordable homes and newcommunity facilities.

• Continue an open dialogue with interesteddevelopers on the Churchgate site.

Projects to deliver the priority of Working withOur Communities

The Council will continue to work with communityfacilities including those in the rural areas to supportthe management of them and their sustainability

• Complete the fit out and open the NorthHertfordshire Museum and Community Facility.

• As part of the John Barker Place regeneration a new Westmill Community Centre will be constructed and the old one demolished.

• Delivery of identified projects in the Green SpaceStrategy including the provision of water splashparks in Bancroft Recreation Ground in Hitchinand Priory Memorial Garden Royston.

• Redevelopment and refurbishment at North Herts Leisure Centre

PROGRESS ON KEY PROJECTSIN 2014/15In 2014/15 the followingprojects/improvements were delivered:

• We consulted with you on the Preferred Optionsfor the Draft Local Plan.

• Renovation work at Hitchin Town Hall is nearlycompleted to provide a modern, accessible North Hertfordshire Museum and we successfullyapplied for Heritage Lottery funding for the fit-out costs for the new museum.

• Grants totalling £50,000 were awarded toimprove community and village halls.

Projects and improvements planned for 2015 and beyond

In the coming year, we will continue to exploreopportunities for delivering our services in differentways to ensure we deliver services which providebest value for money and which support the deliveryof our priorities.

Projects to Promote Sustainable Growth

The following specific projects will support thispriority:

• Consideration of the representations made on thepreferred options document to support a new Local Plan

Living within our Means

Includes the delivery of the following:• The Council Offices will be refurbished

including ‘green’ initiatives where appropriateto ensure a more efficient use of all utilities

• Dependent on agreement to the Business Case, to form a partnership agreement for thedelivery of Building Control services with sixother Hertfordshire authoritie

• To implement the outcomes from energy audits undertaken in 2013/14 to reduce energy consumption where these have a proven payback

2014/152015/16

Net Expenditure(£’000s)

887

Net Expenditure(£’000s)

899

Gross Income(£’000s)

26

Gross Expenditure(£’000s)

925Cultural & Related Services

3,7103,8142,5546,368Waste & Recycling Collection

4,1764,4192,9397,358Leisure & Environmental Services

1,6461,582261,608Policy & Community Development

1,2481,45540,08041,535Revenues & Benefits

8109088741,782Development & Building Control

1,1401,2413011,542Strategic Planning and Enterprise

3,2103,1341,5304,664Housing and Public Protection

1,6541,70231,705Democratic Services

90192140961Corporate & Other Services

19,38220,07548,37368,448Sub-Total

GENERAL FUND BUDGET ANALYSIS

840907907Commercial Rents

486365365Interest Received

2,4202,742Capital Charges

15,63616,06149,64565,706Total

Funded By:

-2,674-1,887Revenue Support Grant

-2,510-2,474Business Rates Baseline

-2,069-2,369Other grants

0-83

-9,590-9,854Council Tax Requirement

1,207606Contribution to /(from) Reserves

-15,636-16,061Total

44.75 43.87

66,322Total

HOW DOES NORTH HERTFORDSHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL SPEND ITS MONEY?The table below shows how much we plan to spend on each of the main services we provide and how thiscompares with the previous year.

WHERE DOES THE MONEY COME FROM?The table below shows how we fund our expenditure. Our income sources from Government, Business(Non-Domestic Rates) and fees and charges do not meet all of the cost of providing our services and thedifference is funded from the Council Tax charge to local residents.

2,742

Council Revenue Income 2015/16 (£’000s)

40,080Housing Benefit Subsidy

1,887Formula Government Grant2,557Retained Business Rates2,393New Homes Bonus

8,032Fees & Charges

907Commercial Rents365Investment Interest247Other Government Grants & Contributions

9,854Council Tax

2015/16 Expenditure (£’000s)8,149

627

2,560

11,336Total

Funded by: 2015/16 Funding (£’000s)3,996Capital Receipts772Government Grants223Revenue475Third Party Contributions

5,870Set Aside Receipts

11,336Total

Living within our means

Promoting SustainableDevelopment

Working with ourCommunities

CAPITAL EXPENDITURE & FUNDING

The Table Below shows what we spend in delivering some of the projects referred to above and how we fund our capital expenditure. We fund this expenditure from receipts from the sale of assets (capital receipts),prudential borrowing, Government Grants, contributions from developers and third parties and revenue.

£’000s

557Inflation (net of fees and charges increases)

Efficiencies

9,590

-441Base Changes 76

239New Investment in Priorities740Reduction in Government Funding and Retained Business Rates-300 -607Change in Contribution to Reserves9,854Council Tax Requirement 2015/16

BUDGET CHANGES 2014/15 to 2016/16

HOW OUR SPENDING HAS CHANGED FROM 2014/15The table below shows how our spending has changed from last year.

Increase in New Homes Bonus and Other Grants

Council Tax Requirement 2014/15

Business Rates retainedabove baseline

WHAT WE SPEND ON CAPITAL PROJECTS TO PROVIDE YOU WITH SERVICESAND HOW THAT EXPENDITURE IS FUNDEDThe Council plans to invest £11million of capital funds in its three priorities:Living within our means - includes leisure centre and other property improvement and enhancedinformation technology for more efficient processesPromoting Sustainable Development - includes the delivery of our transport, cycle and greeninfrastructure strategies and energy efficiency measures.Working with our Communities - includes new splash parks and improvements to facilities, grants toHousing Associations for the delivery of affordable housing, the Disabled Facility Grant scheme and otherimprovements in the Community.

COMMENTSWe welcome all comments about the services weprovide and use your feedback to improve ourperformance. You can register your comments/complaints about anyof our services via our website at www.north-herts.gov.uk, by person at the council offices, by emailat service@north-herts.gov.uk by post, or by telephoneusing our Customer Service Centre on 01462 474000.

A free booklet outlining the role of the LocalGovernment Ombudsman is available from the NHDCmain offices in Gernon Road, Letchworth Garden Cityor by writing to 21 Queen Anne’s Gate, London SW1H9BU.

MAKING ACCESS TO COUNCILSERVICES EASIER

You can contact us via our website atwww.north-herts.gov.uk

Or email us at service@north-herts.gov.uk

You can ring our Customer Service Centre on 01462 474000

Or for the hard of hearing on textphone 01462 474800 for all enquiries

If you would like an audio cassette, Braille or large print version contact: 01462 474552

You can write to us at:North Hertfordshire District Council, PO Box 480, M33 0DE

Please use this for all correspondence for the following services: Revenues & Benefits, Planning & Building Control, Housing &Environmental Health

Post for all other services should continue to be sent to:District Council Offices, Gernon Road, Letchworth, Herts, SG6 3JF

Letchworth, Baldock and Hitchin Cover photos copyright SLM Photography

LEE VALLEY REGIONAL PARK AUTHORITY

Budget/Levy Changes – 2014/15 to 2015/16 (£’000)

Gross Operating Income

Net Service Operating Costs

Financing Costs – Debt servicing/repayments

- Capital Investment

Total Net Expenditure

2014 / 15 2015 / 16

£m £m

24.3 22.1(13.4) (13.3)

10.9 8.7

0.7 0.6

2.0 1.8

13.6 11.2

Total Levy (11.3) (11.1)

Gross Operating Expenditure

WAYS TO PAY YOUR COUNCIL TAX

There are numerous ways in which you can pay yourCouncil Tax. The most popular method is by direct debitbut you can pay by debit/credit card, swipe card, standingorder and cheque.

Visit www.north-herts.gov.uk and search for ‘Council Tax’

Having trouble paying your Council Tax?

There are a number of ways that the Council can help you:

• You may be entitled to a discount or help under the Council Tax reduction scheme

Visit www.north-herts.gov.uk and search for ‘Discounts andExemptions’

• You can contact the Council’s housing options team for advice on 01462 474000 or look at our Housingpages on the NHDC website www.north-herts.gov.uk.

• If you are struggling with money problems and are worried about meeting mortgage or rent payments, you may wish to talk with our Housing Debt Advice Officer 01462 474682

• If you are having trouble paying your Council Tax speakto the Council’s Recovery Team immediately by calling01462 474000.

2015/16

10,700

4,674

1,041

617

1,051

630

Levies Raised

Total CouncilTax Base

2014/15

£’000s £’000s £’000s£’000s

74,750 15,253 14,95063,731

10,500

4,556

Gross Expenditure

Thames Region Floodand Coastal Committee

Anglian Central RegionalFlood and Coastal Committee

2014/15 2015/16

To find out more about how this budget is spent go towww.leevalleypark.org.uk

LEVYING BODIESHertfordshire County Council has to contribute to thefunding of the Environment Agency (South East and AnglianRegions) and the Lee Valley Regional Park. NHDC is obligedto inform taxpayers of the gross expenditures of theselevying bodies, which is as follows:

Environment Agency South East and Anglian RegionsThe Environment Agency is a levying body for its Flood andCoastal Erosion Risk Management Functions. The majorityof funding for flood defence comes directly from theDepartment for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs(Defra). However, under the new Partnership Funding rulenot all schemes will attract full central funding. To provide‘matching’ funding the Agency may seek funding fromCounty Councils in the form of a local levy. The local levyis shared on the basis of Band D equivalents between allcontributing bodies within the Committee Area.

Changes in the gross budgeted expenditure between theyears both reflects the impact of the Government SpendingReview and national prioritisation of projects. For 2015/16the total Local Levy raised has increased by 0% and by 1.9%for the Anglian and Thames areas respectively.

The financialdetails are: