Your Council Tax explained

Contents

• Who pays Council Tax?
• How council tax is shared out
• How we set your Council Tax
• What are the significant changes?
• Council Tax requirement for all area services
• Who does what?
• More information about other services
• Your Council Tax by Parish & Town 2023-24
• Empty Dwelling Discounts & Charges
• Council Tax banding and appeals
• Help to pay - Council Tax
• Council Tax Reduction - What is changing?

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:

• Telephone: 03000 501 501
• Email: cteast@voa.gsi.gov.uk

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.

• Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service (external link)
• Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner (external link)
• Nottinghamshire County Council (external link) 

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. 

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 discounts

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.

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

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Last Updated on Wednesday, March 15, 2023