Agenda item

“That the Committee notes that the Scottish Government has legislated to change the Council Tax multipliers for properties in Bands E-H which has undermined the principal of local accountability and autonomy.

Instructs the Chief Executive to send the attached letter to all Band E-H households as soon as possible so that those households within Band E-H households can prepare for paying their Council Tax from April 2017.”

The Committee had before it the following urgent motion by Councillor Laing:-

“That the Committee notes that the Scottish Government has legislated to change the Council Tax multipliers for properties in Bands E-H which has undermined the principal of local accountability and autonomy.

Instructs the Chief Executive to send the attached letter to all Band E-H households as soon as possible so that those households within Band E-H can prepare for paying their Council Tax from April 2017.”

Dear  ______

Council Tax changes in 2017/18

Scottish Parliament Legislation is to be introduced to change Council Tax and this will come into force from April 2017.   The Council therefore wishes to give early notice of the national changes to Council Tax to help you prepare for paying your Council Tax from April 2017.

Council Tax is applied across a range of bands from A to H, with all bands having a relationship with band D, known as the multiplier. The national legislation is to change the Council Tax multipliers for properties in Bands E to H from 1 April 2017.  There is no local discretion to change these multipliers.

The table below shows the current and revised multipliers for Band E to H and the percentage increase in charge. The table also shows what your current Council Tax would be with the new multipliers applied. This is to give you an early indication of the potential change, and should not be relied on as the Council Tax charges may be subject to change when the Council sets its budget for 2017/18.  The Council Tax from 1 April 2017 will be set when the Council plans to approve the 2017/18 Budget on 22 February 2017.  Scottish Water charges for water and wastewater will continue to be charged using the current multiplier and are excluded from this increase.

Low income household relief

Single person households with net income of up to £16,750 and all other households with net income of up to £25,000 and less than £16,000 in savings are eligible to apply for a full relief from the increased charge through the Council Tax Reduction Scheme. For further information on these changes, please see our website at xxxx. To request an application form you can either:-

·                E-mail: benefits@aberdeencity.gov.uk. Please remember to provide your address and full name.

·                Telephone: 03000 200 292 (lines are open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm);

·                Download the application form from our website: http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/nmsruntime/saveasdialog.asp?lID=20009&sID=342

·                By visiting one of the addresses below and speak to a member of staff who deals with Council Tax Reduction/Housing Benefit:-

Marischal College      Housing Office         Mastrick Customer Access Point Broad Street    Formartine Road      Spey Road

Aberdeen                     Tillydrone                  Mastrick

AB10 1AB                    Aberdeen                  Aberdeen

The above offices are open 8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday

DO NOT delay sending the application form in. Any delay may result in less relief being awarded to you. This is why it is being sent to you now.

If you are a low income household and already in receipt of Council Tax Reduction then you do not need to re-apply; the 2017/18 Council Tax annual demand notice will include any reduction you are entitled to.

Yours sincerely

Steven Whyte

Head of Finance

The Committee resolved:-

(i)           to approve the terms of the urgent motion subject to the Head of Finance checking whether the legislation had been introduced and amending the first sentence of the letter if required; and

(ii)          to note that the cost of sending the letters of approximately £15,000 would be met from the contingency budget.