Your Council Tax explained

Contents

Who pays Council Tax?

Council Tax payment is the responsibility of owner-occupiers or, if rented the Landlords and tenants, private tenants/Local Council and housing association tenants.

The person(s) liable to pay must be over 18 years of age. Whoever comes first in the following list is the person(s) liable to pay:-

  1. A freeholder who lives in the property.
  2. A leaseholder who lives in the property.
  3. A tenant who lives in the property.
  4. Someone with a licence to live in the property.
  5. Any other person (including squatters).
  6. If nobody lives in the property, the owner must pay Council Tax. The owner is the freeholder or tenant. For a tenant to be classed as the owner they must hold a material interest in the property which means they must hold a tenancy agreement for a term of at least 6 months.

In some circumstances the owner (not the residents) is liable for council tax:

  • Care homes and certain hostels providing care and support
  • Houses of religious communities
  • Houses in Multiple Occupation
  • Second homes with domestic servants
  • Residences of ministers of religion
  • Accommodation provided to an asylum seeker (under s95 immigration and Asylum Act 1999

Council Tax is also due on empty properties (unoccupied and unfurnished) and properties that are furnished but unoccupied (second homes).

The amount of Council Tax for each household depends on the valuation band a property has been placed in by the Government's Valuation Office Agency, contact them directly if you feel the Valuation band of your property is incorrect on:

Police, fire and local council services are paid for by Council Tax and Government grants, and in some cases, through charges for services. Council Tax is based on property values and, in this area, is collected by Bassetlaw District Council on behalf of all four organisations.

How Council Tax is shared out

Based on a Band D property, the following table shows how much of your Council Tax goes to each organisation and the percentage share.

  • Parish Councils 1.75%
  • Nottinghamshire Police 11.62%
  • Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service 3.87%
  • Bassetlaw District Council 8.38%
  • Adult Social Care 9.92%*
  • Nottinghamshire County Council 64.46%

* Nottinghamshire County Council are also levying a charge to pay for the provision of Adult Social Care. The council tax attributable to Nottinghamshire County Council includes a precept to fund adult social care.

The Secretary of State made an offer to adult social care authorities. (“Adult social care authorities” are local authorities which have functions under Part 1 of the Care Act 2014, namely county councils in England, district councils for an area in England for which there is no county council, London borough councils, the Common Council of the City of London and the Council of the Isles of Scilly.)

The offer was the option of an adult social care authority being able to charge an additional “precept” on its council tax without holding a referendum, to assist the authority in meeting its expenditure on adult social care from the financial year 2016-17. It was originally made in respect of the financial years up to and including 2019-20. If the Secretary of State chooses to renew this offer in respect of a particular financial year, this is subject to the approval of the House of Commons’.

How we set your Council Tax

This shows the breakdown of the expenditure requirements for Bassetlaw District Council only. 

Services provided by Bassetlaw District Council

Gross Expenditure 2023/24

£

Net Expenditure 2023/24

£

Previous year Net

Expenditure 2021/22

£

Chief Executive Department 587,400 443,100 429,800
Human Resources 646,000 392,400 358,600
Corporate Services 5,014,700 3,286,900 2,801,200
Finance, Property & Revenue 26,754,000 4,160,200 2,912,400
Neighbourhoods 10,211,800 7,533,300 7,015,900
Regeneration 4052,400 1,721,000 3,102,800
Housing General Fund 1,794,100 427,600 330,800
Service Total 49,060,400 17,964,500 16,951,500
Other Budgets 4,846,900 1,822,800 1,022,780
Transfer to (+) from (-) reserves 1,038,800 1,038,800 1,153,520
Budget Requirement 54,946,100 20,826,100 19,127,800

This gives a total net requirement of £20,826,100 for 2023/24.

What are the significant changes?

Bassetlaw’s planned expenditure for last year 2022/23 was £19,127,800. Significant changes are as shown in the table.

Major Changes between Years £'000
Pay inflation - (incl pay award, pensions, N.I. & Apprenticeship levy) 1,295,800
Increased Premises costs 21,800
Other Operating Expenditure budgets  379,500
Movement in reserves 31,520
Various other net increases 353,600
Increase in Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) 167,700
Profit Share Bersahill/S80 270,000
Interest 51,380
Sub total  1,698,300

 

How does the £19,127,800 net expenditure requirement link to the Council Tax charge for 2023/24?

We deduct any grants that we receive from the total net budget requirement above to arrive at a net amount that we need to raise from Council Tax receipts. The last column shows these figures divided by the total number of Band D equivalent chargeable dwellings known as the Tax Base which for 2023/24 is 37,260,45. 

Grants received by Bassetlaw deducted from Total net budget requirement

£

£ (shown as a Band D equivalent)

Total net budget requirement

20,826,100

558.94

Less grants received by Bassetlaw District Council

£

£ (shown as a Band D equivalent)

Revenue Support Grant

259,600

-6.97

 Retained Business Rates

9,559,100

-256.55

 New Homes Bonus Grant

1,038,800

-27.88

 Capital Grants received

163,000

-4.37

 Service Grants

645,400

-17.32

 Council Tax Support Admin Grant

128,600

-3.45

 Miscellaneous Government Grants

290,600

-7.80

 Parish Councils and Charter Trustees

1,508,200

-40.48

Bassetlaw D.C's "bottom line" (rounded)

7,232,800

194.12

 

Council Tax requirement for all area services

We then ask Notts County Council, the Police Authority, the Fire Service and the 48 parish councils in the district, what their future budget requirements are for the year and add these together to arrive at a total we need to collect through Council Tax. Information about the services provided by the County Council, Police and Fire Authorities can be found on their websites.

Total Required

Total of Required

£

%

£

(shown as a Band D

equivalent

Bassetlaw District Council

         7,232,800

8.38%

194.12

Total Parish requirement (48 precepts)

1,508,200

1.75%

40.48

Nottinghamshire County Council

   55,656,307

64.46%

1,493.71

Nottinghamshire County Council Adult Social Care

8,568,040

9.92%

229.85

Nottinghamshire Police & Crime Commissioner

10,030,140

11.62%

269.19

Combined Fire Authority

3,337,418

3.87%

89.57

Council Tax requirement 2022/23

86,332,905

100.00% 

2,317.02

We divide the above total required (£86,332,905) by the total number of Band D equivalent chargeable dwellings known as the tax base.

For 2023/24 taxbase is 37,260.45 to reach an average Band D charge of £2,317.02.

Please note: Actual charges may vary and are listed for each Town or Parish.

Who does what?

Bassetlaw District Council provides important local services to citizens, residents, businesses, charities and voluntary groups. Services include:

Corporate Resources

  • Community Safety, CCTV, Anti-Social Behaviour
  • Business Rates, Council Tax, Housing Benefit
  • Democratic Services, Elections, Communications
  • Customer Services, Information Technology, Geographical Information System
  • Finance, Grants to support voluntary sector
  • Legal Licensing

Regeneration and Neighbourhoods

  • Bassetlaw Museum
  • Leisure Facilities, Parks & Open Spaces
  • Car Parks, Tourism, Markets, Shopmobility
  • Household Waste, Trade Waste, Recycling, Street Sweeping
  • Planning, Building Control
  • Food Hygiene, Environment Health, Public Health

More information about other services

Your Council Tax funds other important local services, as well as Bassetlaw District Council Services.

Other major preceptors

Harworth & Bircotes Town Council, Carlton-in-Lindrick Parish Council and Tuxford Town Council each raise in excess of £140,000 as a Parish charge. We are required to give details of how they work out their requirements.

Budget of Harworth & Bircotes Town Council

How Harworth & Bircotes Town Council (external link) have worked out their requirements from Council Tax.

 

Previous Year 2022/23

£

This Year 2023/24

£

Expenditure

367,375

398,110

Less other income

95,663

110,095

Precept

271,712

288,015

  

Budget of Carlton-in-Lindrick Parish Council

How Carlton-in-Lindrick Parish Council (external link) have worked out their requirements from Council Tax.

 

Previous Year 2022/23

£

This Year 2023/24

£

Expenditure

219,296

212,750

Less other income

54,256

40,493

Precept

165,040

172,257

Budget of Tuxford Town Council

How Tuxford Town Council (external link) have worked out their requirements from Council Tax.

 

Previous Year 2022/23

£

This Year 2023/24

£

Expenditure

156,049

160,748

Less other income

14,985

15,452

Precept

141,064

145,296

Your Council Tax by Parish & Town 2023-24

The charges shown are based on two adult residents.

Council taxes include Bassetlaw District Council, Nottinghamshire Police, Combined Fire Authority and Parish.

If you live in parts of the Bassetlaw District where no parish levy applies, please see ‘All other parts of Bassetlaw’.

This covers residents in Bole; Carburton; Clumber and Hardwick; Haughton; Scaftworth; Wallingwells; West Burton.

          Amount of Precept Parish Levy at Band 'D'
Parish/Town  A   B   C  D  E   F   G   H  2022/23 2021/22  
   £   £   £  £  £   £   £   £  £ £ £
Askham  1,533.09 1,788.61 2,044.12 2,299.64 2,810.67 3,321.71 3,832.73  4,599.28 1,648 1,975 23.10
Babworth 1,534.51 1,790.26 2,046.02 2,301.77 2,813.28 3,324.78 3,836.28 4,603.54 5,377 5,736 25.23
Barnby Moor 1,561.23 1,821.44 2,081.64 2,341.85 2,862.26 3,382.68 3,903.08 4,683.70 7,500 8,000 65.31
Beckingham-cum-Saundby 1,572.52 1,834.60 2,096.69 2,358.78 2,882.96 3,407.13 3,931.30 4,717.56 43,366 43,960 82.24
Blyth 1,576.72 1,839.50 2,102.29 2,365.08 2,890.66 3,416.23 3,941.80 4,730.16 37,461 45,837 88.54
Bothamsall 1,533.86 1789.50 2,045.15 2,300.79 2,812.08 3,323.37 3,834.65 4,601.58   2,100 2,250 24.25
Carlton in Lindrick 1,581.02 1,844.53 2,108.03 2,371.54 2,898.55 3,425.56 3,952.56 4,743.08 165,040 172,257 95.00
Clarborough & Welham 1,543.11 1,800.30 2,057.48 2,314.67 2,829.04 3,343.42 3,857.78 4,629.34 15,000 15,000 38.13
Clayworth 1,559.75 1,819.71 2,079.67 2,339.63 2,859.55 3,379.47 3,899.38 4,679.26 9,212 9,000 63,09
Dunham on Trent with Ragnall, Fledborough and Darlton 1,565.24 1,826.12 2,086.99 2,347.87 2,869.62 3,391.37 3,913.11 4,695.74 15,006 16,358 71.33
East Drayton 1,537.56 1,793.83 2,050.09 2,306.35 2,818.87 3,331.40 3,843.91 4,612.70 2,707 3,568 29.81
East Markham 1,554.20 1,813.24 2,072.27 2,331.31 2,849.38 3,367.45 3,885.51 4,662.62 27,595 30,907 54.77
East Retford Charter Trustees 1,518.69 1,771.81 2,024.92 2,278.04 2,784.27 3,290.51 3,796.73 4,556.08 8,700 11,110 1.50
Elkesley 1,558.18 1,817.87 2,077.57 2,337.27 2,856.67 3,376.06 3,895.45 4,647.54 14,335 15,195 60.73
Everton 1,546.48 1,804.23 2,061.98 2,319.73 2,835.23 3,350.73 3,866.21 4,639.46 15,635 17,239 43.19
Gamston with West Drayton & Eaton 1,555.00 1,814.16 2,073.33 2,332.50 2,850.84 3,369.17 3,887.50 4,665.00 6,462 13,896 55.96
Gringley-on-the Hill 1,562.95 1,823.44 2,083.94 2,344.43 2,865.42 3,386.40 3,907.38 4,688.86 22,750 23,175 67.89
Harworth & Bircotes 1,596.98 1,863.15 2,129.31 2,395.48 2,927.81 3,460.14 3,992.46 4,790.96 271,712 288,015 118.94
Hayton 1,564.09 1,824.77 2,085.46 2,346.14 2,867.51 3,388.87 3,910.23 4,692.28 11,000 11,000 69.60
Headon-cum-Upton with Grove & Stokeham 1,558.99 1,818.82 2,078.66 2,338.49 2,858.16 3,377.82 3,897.48 4,676.98 10,179 10,382 61.95
Hodsock 1,570.36 1,832.09 2,093.82 2,355.55 2,879.01 3,402.47 3,925.91 4,711.10 45,796 49,546 79.01
Laneham 1,603.41 1,870.65 2,137.88 2,405.12 2,939.59 3,474.07 4,008.53 4,810.24 16,618 18,446 128.58
Lound 1,572.06 1,834.07 2,096.08 2,358.09 2,882.11 3,406.13 3,930.15 4,716.18 14,700 16,506 81.55
Markham Clinton 1,564.44 1,825.19 2,085.93 2,346.67 2,868.15 3,389.64 3,911.11 4,693.34 3,902 7,000 70.13
Mattersey 1,566.76 1,827.89 2,089.02 2,350.15 2,872.41 3,394.67 3,916.91 4,700.30 18,115 19,781 73.61
Misson 1,555.90 1,815.22 2,074.54 2,333.86 2,852.50 3,371.14 3,889.76 4,667.72 14,535 15,400 57.32
Misterton 1,615.81 1,885.11 2,154.42 2,423.72 2,962.33 3,500.93 4,039.53 4,847.44 98,000 106,820 147.18
Nether Langwith 1,588.30 1,853.01 2,117.73 2,382.45 2,911.89 3,441.32 3,970.75 4,764.90 11,530 15,594 105.91
Normanton-on-Trent with Marnham 1,537.50 1,793.75 2,050.00 2,306.25 2,818.75 3,331.25 3,843.75 4,612.50 5,332 6,323 29.71
North and South Wheatley 1,569.49 1,831.07 2,092.66 2,354.24 2,877.41 3,400.57 3,923.73 4,708.48         22,000         22,000 77.70
North Leverton with Habblesthorpe 1,553.25 1,812.13 2,071.00 2,329.88 2,847.63 3,365.39 3,883.13 4,659.76 19,000 19,000 53.34
Norton Cuckney, Holbeck and Welbeck 1,550.68 1,809.13 2,067.58 2,326.03 2,842.93 3,359.83 3,876.71 4,652.06 - 14,962 49.49
Rampton 1,617.81 1,887.45 2,157.08 2,426.72 2,965.99 3,505.27 4,044.53 4,853.44 44,477 46,685 150.18
Ranskill 1,546.79 1,804.59 2,062.39 2,320.19 2,835.79 3,351.39 3,866.98 4,640.38 22,055 24,026 43.65
Rhodesia 1,542.02 1,799.03 2,056.03 2,313.04 2,827.05 3,341.06 3,855.06 4,626.08 10,804 12,608 36.50
Scrooby 1,558.32 1,818.04 2,077.76 2,337.48 2,856.92 3,376.36 3,985.80 4,674.96 7,400 7,827 60.94
Shireoaks 1,546.42 1,804.15 2,061.89 2,319.63 2,835.11 3.350.58 3,866.05 4,639.26 26,610 29,589 43.09
South Leverton 1,577.79 1,840.76 2,103.72 2,366.69 2,892.62 3,418.56 3,944.48 4,733.38 16,026 17,760 90.15
Sturton-le-Steeple 1,584.25 1,848.31 2,112.35 2,376.40 2,904.49 3,432.58 3,960.66 4,752.80 20,761 20,760 99.86
Styrrup with Oldcotes 1,533.12 1,788.65 2,044.17 2,299.69 2,810.73 3,321.78 3,832.81 4,599.38 17,174 7,000 23.15
Sutton 1,560.50 1,820.58 2,080.67 2,340.75 2,860.92 3,381.09 3,901.25 4,681.50 12,881 19,000 64.21
Torworth 1,629.33 1,900.89 2,172.44 2,444.00 2,987.11 3,530.23 4,073.33 4,888.00 15,120 15,840 167.46
Treswell-with-Cottam 1,562.96 1,823.46 2,083.95 2,344.45 2,865.44 3,386.43 3,907.41 4,688.90 5,000 8,930 67.91
Tuxford 1,632.40 1,904.47 2,176.54 2,448.61 2,992.75 3,536.89 4,081.01 4,987.22 141.064 145.296 172.07
Walkeringham 1,572.80 1,834.94 2,097.07 2,359.21 2,883.48 3,497.75 3,932.01 4,718.42 25,922 32,781 82.67
West Stockwith 1,610.42 1,878.83 2,147.23 2,415.64 2,952.45 3,489.26 4,026.06 4,831.28 16,259 17,164 139.10
Wiseton 1,522.77 1,776.57 2,030.36 2,284.16 2,791.75 3,299.35 3,806.93 4,568.32 207 347 7.62
Worksop Charter Trustees 1,520.15 1,773.51 2,026.87 2,280.23 2,786.95 3,293.67 3,800.38 4,560.46 46,323 46,300 3.69
All other parts of Bassetlaw 2022/23 1,517.69 1,770.64 2,023.59 2,276.54 2,782.44 3,288.34 3,794.23 4,553.09 - - -
Last year 2021/22 1,447.59 1,688.87 1,930.12 2,171.39 2,653.91 3,136.46 3,618.98 4,342.78 - - -

 

Empty Dwelling Discounts & Charges

Discounts

These discounts apply to the property. A change in ownership does not trigger a fresh period of entitlement to the discounts. The discounts apply from the date on which the dwelling becomes empty.

Dwellings which are furnished but unoccupied are known as ‘second homes’, they are billed at the full rate; there is no discount for these dwellings. The premium charge is not billed on second homes. 

Requirements for the discount to apply How long does the discount apply for? What happens after the discount period has expired? Amount of discount
Dwelling must be unoccupied and unfurnished Up to 6 months No further discount 25%
Dwellings must be uninhabitable (in need of or undergoing major repair works to make it habitable) Up to 12 months No further discount 25%

Premium charges for long term empty dwellings

If the property has been empty and substantially unfurnished for two years or more, you will be required to pay an empty home premium on top of the full Council Tax charge for your property.

The premium is 100% of the full Council Tax charge for your property, so you will have to pay 200% of the full Council Tax charge.

Council Tax banding and appeals

What do others pay in Council Tax compared with band A? 

Generally, the higher the band, the higher the Council Tax payable.

  Band A Band B Band C Band D Band E Band F Band G Band H
Cost £1,520.15  x 1⅙ x 1⅓ x 1½ x 1⅚ x 2⅙ x 2½ x 3

For example, a Band D pays 1½ times more than a band A. The fractions shown above are set by the Government and do not change from year to year.

Can I appeal against my property valuation band?

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) values domestic properties for council tax. This valuation is used to set your council tax band. You might need to contact the VOA if you think your council tax band is wrong (external link). If you challenge your band, you must continue to pay council tax at your current band until your appeal is decided. 

You can contact the VOA (external link). If you are unable to use the online service you can also contact the VOA on 03000 501 501.

Help to pay - Council Tax

Council Tax Reduction (CTR) replaced Council Tax Benefit from April 2013 and each year since then, the Council has set a local discount scheme for working age people. The Government retained a national scheme for people of Pension age, which is means-tested.

The local scheme is designed to assist those on low incomes or out of work benefits such as Jobseekers Allowance, Employment Support Allowance and the new Universal Credit. It also supports those who have a severe disability. 

You can make a claim for council tax reduction. If you need help to claim or any advice on what you can claim, there are also links on the benefits pages to help you, including a benefit calculator.

A full copy of the council’s Council Tax Reduction Scheme can be found on the above website and search for “Council Tax Reduction”

Help and Advice

For general benefits advice you can contact us by emailing customer.services@bassetlaw.gov.uk, completing our 'make a benefits enquiry' form online or calling us on 01909 533 710.

For help to arrange payment call 01909 533 234 or if you need to talk to one of our money advisors call 01909 533 744.

Council Tax Reduction - What is changing?

The amount of Council Tax Reduction shown on your bill (a deduction from your bill due to low income), may have changed from 1 April. This is for two reasons;

  • A recalculation due to the increase in the net Council Tax payable on the property for the coming year
  • An increase in the income bands of 10.1% in line with changes the Dept. for Work and Pensions will make to most benefits (CPI). This should ensure most remain in the same income band as the previous year.

New CTR bands of entitlement

Band

Claim category for scheme

Discount

Pensioner (prescribed) scheme

Households where one or both have reached Pension age

Means-tested based on 100%

1

Working-age households eligible for a severe disability premium (or SDP transitional protection in UC)

95%

2

Households in receipt of Income Support, Employment Support Allowance, Income-based Jobseekers Allowance or maximum Universal Credit or with income equal to or less than £92.17 per week

 88%

3

Weekly income between £92.17 and £206.61

65%

4

Weekly income between £206.62 and £272.95  

45%

5

Weekly income between £273.96 and £374.41

25%

 

Income cut off point £374.42

0


Last Updated on Wednesday, March 15, 2023