Your guide
to council tax
2016-2017
Important information
for people who pay council tax
www.newcastle.gov.uk
Contents
Message from the Leader of the Council
Page
3
The Council Pound
4
How much you will pay
5
How your council tax is built up
6
What will the council spend in 2016-2017
8
How you can pay
10
How to pay less
10
Please pay on time
17
Data protection
18
Adult Social Care Precept
19
Other financial information
20
Garden Waste
27
Key contacts
28
How to get in touch about council tax
29
Page 2
Message from the Leader of the Council
Shielding and investing
I want to thank everyone who took part in this year's budget consultation.
It has been a difficult time for Newcastle as we once again try to
safeguard the city in the face of disproportionate government
funding cuts. Every one of the many consultation responses the council
received has been considered, and where possible we have tried to
mitigate the impact of the difficult decisions facing the city.
The council I lead has stood up for Newcastle during five years of
government cuts, shielding the most vulnerable from the worst effects of
austerity and investing in our city's future. That shield, however, is
starting to look very dented.
It is now clear that we are only half way through a ten-year period of
austerity, one in which this city faces the reality of deep and continuing
spending cuts to the publicly-funded services which have
underpinned our national identity throughout the post war period.
Following consultation, we have taken the decision - albeit reluctantly to raise council tax by 1.9 per cent. Every penny will be used to keep
frontline services going. We will also implement the Government's
proposal for a 2 per cent social care precept. We don't want to do this
but have no choice as next year we have to slash £15m from our adult
social care budget. The money we raise will sadly only be a fraction of
the amount that we have to cut which is why there is more pain to come.
Despite the pain, we have much to be optimistic about. Unemployment
is at a 10-year low and although stubbornly higher than the national
average is forecast to fall for the next few years.
And we will continue to invest in the city, using what resources we have
to encourage job creation, as well as doing all we can to support our
communities. Newcastle is a great city with great people. We are
celebrating our 800th anniversary of having a Mayor and Freemen, and
not many cities in Europe can do that. Our history proves we can survive
some tough times and I am confident that we will emerge from the
current challenges even stronger.
Councillor Nick Forbes
Leader of the Council
Page 3
The Council Pound
Where our money comes from
What we’re spending our money on
Page 4
How much you will pay
Your council tax bill is based on the value of your home and how many
adults live there.
Your home has been put into one of eight valuation bands,
depending on its market value as at 1 April 1991.
Our council tax levels for 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2017 are
shown below.
Legislation means that we must show the percentage increase
between last year’s and this year’s charge on your bill.
If you are the new council tax payer of a property, you could
be affected by improvements made to your property by the
previous owner.
When ownership changes the band can be increased if your
property has been extended or improved since 1993.
Valuation
band
Your property’s
value at
1 April 1991
Council tax
1 April 2016
to 31 March 2017
A
Up to £40,000
£1,069.86
B
£40,001 to £52,000
£1,248.17
C
£52,001 to £68,000
£1,426.48
D
£68,001 to £88,000
£1,604.79
E
£88,001 to £120,000
£1,961.41
F
£120,001 to £160,000
£2,318.03
G
£160,001 to £320,000
£2,674.65
H
£320,001 or more
£3,209.58
Page 5
How is the council tax built up
Equivalent
Net
Band D Expenditure
Expenditure Council Tax Per Head
£000
£
£
Total Spending by the City
231,471
3,649.47
828.16
Less: Revenue Support
Grant and
Contribution from
Business Rates
(including top up)
(57,763)
910.72
206.67
(82,670)
1,303.41
295.78
91,038
1,435.35
325.72
Police and Crime
Commissioner for
Northumbria
5,920
93.33
21.18
Tyne and Wear
Fire and
Rescue Authority
4,827
76.11
17.27
1,604.79
364.17
Council Requirement
Plus Joint Board Precepts:
Amount to be
raised from Council Tax
Page 6
101,785
Band
City
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
£
938.49
1,094.90
1,251.32
1,407.73
1,720.56
2,033.38
2,346.22
2,815.46
Band
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
Page 7
Brunswick
£
12.29
14.33
16.38
18.43
22.53
26.62
30.72
36.86
Adult Social
Care Precept
£
18.41
21.48
24.55
27.62
33.76
39.90
46.03
55.24
Dinnington
£
12.03
14.03
16.04
18.04
22.05
26.06
30.07
36.08
Police
Fire
£
62.22
72.59
82.96
93.33
114.07
134.81
155.55
186.66
£
50.74
59.20
67.65
76.11
93.02
109.94
126.85
152.22
Hazlerigg
£
15.90
18.55
21.20
23.85
29.15
34.45
39.75
47.70
N. Fenham
& Blakelaw
£
12.36
14.42
16.48
18.54
22.66
26.78
30.90
37.08
North
Gosforth
£
3.93
4.58
5.24
5.89
7.20
8.51
9.82
11.78
Total
£
1,069.86
1,248.17
1,426.48
1,604.79
1,961.41
2,318.03
2,674.65
3,209.58
Woolsington
£
2.89
3.38
3.86
4.34
5.30
6.27
7.23
8.68
What will the council spend in 2016-2017 on the provision of its services?
2015-2016
2016-2017
Gross
Expenditure
£000
Net
Gross
Expenditure
Income
£000
£000
214,256 (205,716) 8,540
170,035 (49,210)120,825
31 Public Health
24,042 (24,011)
Roads
22,568 (20,275) 2,293 Highways,
and Transport
6,611 (2,262)
19,375 (10,108)
4,349
Net
Expenditure
Education and other
Children's Services
Social Care
Income
Expenditure
£000
£000
£000
5,146
(2,257)
2,889
224,797 (214,557) 10,240
176,041 (55,766) 120,275
26,994 (26,911)
83
24,013 (20,973) 3,040
Planning and
Development
and Related
9,267 Leisure
Services
19,517 (11,270) 8,247
and
31,623 (9,812) 21,811 Environment
Regulatory Services
30,757
(9,722) 21,035
17,489 (6,069) 11,420 Housing
14,316 (5,707)
8,609
21,049 (8,446) 12,603 Other Central Services 21,546 (8,712) 12,834
59,193 (74,026) (14,833) Trading Accounts
60,992 (75,367) (14,375)
586,241 (409,935)176,306 Total Service 604,119 (431,242)172,877
Expenditure
Plus: Provisions
52,974
(5,552)
201
17,309
Corporate Provisions
Contribution
to/from Reserves
PLUS: LEVIES
Northumbria Regional
Flood and Costal
Committee Levy
Integrated Transport
Authority Levy
241,238 Total spending
by the city
31 March 2016 - £10.134m
Page 8
45,935
(4,414)
201
16,872
231,471
Amount kept in 31 March 2017 - £10.134m
unearmarked reserves
What will the council spend in 2016-2017 on the provision of its services?
Change in year.
Net
Expenditure
£000
1,700
(550)
52
747
(1,460)
(1,020)
(776)
(2,811)
On Services
Education and other
Children's Services
Social Care
Public Health
Highways, Roads
and Transport
Planning and
Development
Leisure and Related
Services
Environment and
Regulatory Services
Housing
231 Other Central Services
458 Trading Accounts
Total Service
(3,429) Expenditure
Other information
Total net debt outstanding at 31 March 2016 will amount to £669 million.
Capital expenditure for 2016-2017 is planned at £139 million.
The difference in total spending by the council between years
£000
is explained in terms of:
2015-2016 net budget
241,238
2016-2017 net budget
231,471
Cost pressures
Budget savings
Page 9
20,625
(30,392)
How you can pay
Pay online at www.newcastle.gov.uk/counciltax
Pay by phone on 0191 278 7878 and ask for "payments"
Pay by Direct Debit
monthly, any date between 1st and 28th
weekly on a Monday or a Friday
fortnightly on a Monday or a Friday
How to pay less
The full council tax assumes that two adults (aged 18 and over)
live in a property. To claim or ask about a council tax discount, relief,
exemption or reduction please contact us by phone (0191 278 7878
and ask for council tax) or visit any Customer Service Centre.
However certain reductions may apply:
Discounts may reduce your council tax. You may be entitled to
a discount of:
• 25% if you live alone
• 25% or 50% if one or all adults living in your home are
disregarded (see next page).
• 100% for one month only if your property is unoccupied and
substantially unfurnished. (There must be a period of occupancy
for six weeks between awards of Class C discount).
Page 10
‘Disregarded’ adults are adults who are not counted for council tax
purposes, these include:
• people living in certain hostels
• students, apprentices, student nurses and youth training trainees
• school leavers under 20 who left school or college after
30 April are discounted until 1 November of that year
• diplomats and members of international institutions and
defence organisations
• members of religious communities
• carers
• people who are permanently and severely mentally impaired
• 18 year olds who someone gets Child Benefit for
• people living in hospital, nursing or care homes
• people in prison (except those who are in prison for not
paying their council tax).
Disabled relief helps if your household includes someone with a disability.
To qualify, your home must be lived in by someone who is permanently
and severely disabled and it must be adapted to meet this person’s special
needs. If you qualify for this your council tax band will be reduced.
Exemptions may reduce your council tax, however specific
criteria must be met. Examples of when an exemption can
be awarded include:
Occupied properties that are:
• lived in by full time students only
• lived in by people under 18 only
• lived in by severely mentally impaired people only.
Page 11
Unoccupied properties (no time limit) where:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
the occupant has gone into prison, hospital or a care home
the occupant has moved to provide care elsewhere
the occupant has moved to receive care elsewhere
the property has been repossessed
the occupation of the property is prohibited by law
the property is held for a Minister of Religion
Grant of Probate has not been obtained.
Unoccupied (up to six months) where:
• Grant of Probate has been obtained
• the property is owned by a Charity.
Changes in circumstances
If you have been awarded a discount, relief, exemption or reduction
and there is a change in your circumstances which could affect your
entitlement, you must tell us within 21 days of the change. If you fail
to tell us a financial penalty of £70 will be imposed. If you fail to tell
us on more than one occasion the penalty may be increased to £280.
You may also be liable for prosecution.
Examples of the types of changes that you must tell us about include
(but are not limited to):
• moving home
• applying for or ending a discount or exemption
• people moving into or out of your home or property
• tenancy changes
• changes to income / savings / type of benefit received by you or
other members of your household.
To report a change in circumstances please use the online enquiry
form: www.newcastle.gov.uk/ctenquiryform or write to us.
Page 12
Appeals against a council tax decision
You can make an appeal against your council tax if you think:
• you are not responsible for the council tax
• council tax should not be charged for your home
• your council tax bill is wrong.
If you wish to appeal, you must in the first instance write to our
Revenues and Benefits Department, Civic Centre, Newcastle upon
Tyne, NE1 8QH and ask us to review the decision, setting out the
reasons why you believe that you are not liable to pay council tax
or why you think your council tax bill is wrong. We will consider the
matter and notify you in writing of the outcome of our review. If after
our review you are still unhappy, or if we fail to respond to your
request for a review within two months, you may appeal to the
Valuation Tribunal, phone 0300 123 2035.
Valuation band appeals
If your enquiry is about the council tax band given to your property,
you need to contact the Valuation Office Agency at
www.gov.uk/voa/contact or write to:
Valuation Office Agency Listing Officer
Manchester Valuation Office
53 Portland Street
Manchester
M1 3LD
Phone 0300 050 1501
Page 13
Council Tax Reduction Scheme - changes to Council Tax Support
from 1 April 2016
In April 2013 the Government abolished Council Tax Benefit and councils
were required to design local Council Tax Reduction schemes with cuts
in funding of about 10%. The cut in our funding over the past three years
has been £8 million and much larger than originally predicted.
Over the last three years we have continued to operate the Council Tax
Reduction Scheme that was approved by City Council in January 2013.
However this year it has been necessary to review and amend our Council
Tax Reduction Scheme to take into consideration further cuts in funding,
council tax arrears and the impact of wider welfare reforms on our residents.
We carried out consultation on various options and changes to our
scheme for eight weeks during October and November 2015. The main
focus of the consultation was on the level of support that we offer, the
proposal to lower support for people with severe and enhanced disability
premiums, the change to backdating rules and whether the council should
increase council tax to fund additional support for the scheme.
On 6 January 2016 City Council approved the following changes to our
scheme which take effect on 1 April 2016;
• All working age people will receive maximum support on 85% of their
council tax liability. This means that all working age people will need to
pay a minimum of 15% of their council tax before they are entitled to
Council Tax Reduction.
• We have removed protections for working age people who currently
receive the enhanced and severe disability premiums. People in this
group have previously received Council Tax Reduction on 100% of their
council tax liability and this will reduce to 85%.
• Income from Disability Living Allowances and Personal Independence
Payments will continue to be disregarded when calculating Council Tax
Reduction, as will Child Benefit, Child Maintenance and War Disablement
Benefits.
• Backdating of Council Tax Reduction applications will be restricted to
four weeks.
Page 14
The following elements of our scheme remain unchanged other than a
provision made for the assessment of Universal Credit:• We will continue to allow a payment of Extended Payment for a
period of four weeks if a person starts work or increases their hours
and they stop getting certain income benefits.
• In supporting work incentives we will continue to apply the additional
earnings disregard of £2.50 that we introduced in 2013.
• Universal Credit will be treated as earned income for the purposes of
assessing Council Tax Reduction when the award contains an element
of wages.
• Non-dependant deductions will be in line with the uprated charges
indicated in the regulations.
• There will be no second adult rebate.
• We will only make a payment when Council Tax Reduction is £1 per
week or more.
• Pension age people will continue to have their Council Tax Reduction
assessed in the same way as prescribed by Central Government.
For more information go to
www.newcastle.gov.uk/benefits-and-council-tax or phone
0191 278 7878 and ask for benefits
Benefit fraud
People caught making false claims for housing benefit may
be fined or jailed.
If you think somebody is cheating on housing benefit, call
us in confidence.
Department for Working Pensions (DWP) 0800 854 440 or
see DWP website at https://secure.dwp.gov.uk/benefitfraud
Page 15
Help and advice on debt
If you have a problem with debt it is important not to panic but don’t
ignore it either - it won’t go away. Every year in Newcastle hundreds
of people work with a debt adviser to deal with their debts. If you have
debt, you need to take action or you could end up losing out financially
or getting yourself deeper into debt. There may be a risk of further
enforcement action being taken, for example by the court and
Enforcement Agents.
Newcastle Citizens Advice Bureau and the council’s Council Tax,
Welfare Rights and Money Matters teams are working together
to help people manage their council tax payments and other debt.
We really want to help you through these difficult times. If you contact
any of the following teams they will be able to provide independent
advice.
We can help by arranging suitable payment plans, helping to maximise
your income through benefits and help to resolve other debt problems.
Please visit any of the websites below to find out more information.
Citizens Advice Bureau
0344 245 1288 or
www.citizensadvice-newcastle.org.uk
Money Matters
0191 277 1050 or
www.newcastle.gov.uk/welfarerights
Welfare Rights
0191 277 2627 or
www.newcastle.gov.uk/welfarerights
Council Tax
0191 278 7878 or
www.newcastle.gov.uk/counciltax
Housing Benefits
0191 278 7878 or
www.newcastle.gov.uk/benefits
YHN
0191 277 1144 or
www.yhn.org.uk
Page 16
Please pay on time as council tax is a priority debt and must
be paid on or before the due date.
• If you miss a payment a reminder will be sent.
• If you ignore this we will apply to the Magistrate’s Court
for a summons.
• If payment is not made the court will issue a liability
order allowing us to enforce collection.
Additional costs will be incurred for a summons and liability
order and you will be required to pay them.
After a liability order is issued the following methods may be
used to collect the council tax debt. These will incur further
costs and you will be required to pay them.
• attachment of earnings or benefit
• instructing an enforcement agent
• issuing a bankruptcy petition
• applying a charging order
• committal to prison
We can help if you fall behind with your council tax payments
please don’t ignore letters sent to you. Please contact us so
that we can help you.
• Phone 0191 278 7878 and ask for council tax
• Visit any Customer Service Centre
Page 17
Data protection
The information held on your account by the council’s Revenues and
Benefits Service will be used for administering and collecting council
tax, business rates and for processing housing benefit claims.
Revenues and Benefits may share your information with other Newcastle
City Council departments to make sure you are receiving all the
reductions, discounts, reliefs and exemptions to which you are entitled.
If you are a Your Homes Newcastle tenant we also obtain information
collected by them and provide both council tax and benefit information
to them.
For further information on Data Protection please phone 0191 277 7666
or email [email protected]
Freedom of Information
The Freedom of Information Act came into force on 1 January 2005.
This gives you the right to see any information that we hold about the
council’s business, subject to certain exemptions. For further information
on Freedom of Information please phone 0191 277 7666 or email
[email protected]
National Fraud Initiative
This authority is under a duty to protect the public funds it administers
and to this end may use the information you have provided for the
prevention and detection of fraud. It may also share this information with
other external bodies responsible for auditing or administering public
funds for these purposes.
Equality and diversity
Newcastle City Council is committed to equality and diversity and this
document is available in different formats. You can get all the information
in this leaflet in large print, audio version, in Braille or in another
language. If you require this please phone 0191 278 7878 and ask for
council tax or email [email protected]
Please visit our website for further information
www.newcastle.gov.uk
Page 18
Adult Social Care Precept
The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has 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 is the option of an adult social care authority being able to
charge a "precept" of up to 2% on its council tax for the financial year
beginning in 2016 without holding a referendum, to assist the authority
in meeting expenditure on adult social care. Subject to the annual
approval of the House of Commons, the Secretary of State intends to
offer the option of charging this "precept" in relation to each financial
year up to and including the financial year 2019-20.
In relation to the financial year beginning in 2016 the Secretary of State
has determined (and the House of Commons has approved) a
referendum principle of 4% (comprising) 2% for expenditure on adult
social care and 2% for other expenditure), for adult social care
authorities. These authorities may therefore set council tax up to this
percentage in 2016 without holding a referendum.
Page 19
Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Authority
Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Authority was established under Section
26 of the Local Government Act 1985, and comprises members from
each of the five districts of Tyne and Wear County.
Additional Information - Council Tax Demand Note
Equivalent Band ‘D’ Charge per dwelling £76.11
Equivalent charge on other bands
A
B
C
D
£50.74 £59.20 £67.65 £76.11
Loans Outstanding at
Estimated Loans Outstanding at
Forecast Capital Expenditure
E
F
G
H
£93.02 £109.94 £126.85 £152.22
£000
31.3.15
31.3.16
2016-2017
13,770
13,223
2,317
31.3.16
31.3.17
3,882
3,882
0
Council Tax Requirement
2015-2016
Council Tax Requirement (equivalent) 2016-2017
Increase in Council Tax Requirement
20,265
20,960
695
935
895
Estimated General Fund Balances
Variation
Numbers of staff - FTE’s
2015-2016
2016-2017
In 2016-2017 council tax represents 37.9% of gross revenue expenditure
(2015-2016 35.8%)
Amount per head based on total projected population of 1,118,713 £
Budget Requirement
43.65
Revenue Support Grant
(11.78)
Top Up Grant
(9.00)
Business Rate Local Share
(3.83)
SFA Adjustment
(0.18)
Section 31 Grant
(0.15)
Collection Fund Net (Surplus)/Deficit
0.03
COUNCIL TAX REQUIREMENT
18.74
Gateshead Newcastle North South Sunderland
Tyneside Tyneside
50,480
63,426 56,948 36,982 67,556
275,392
Page 20
Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Authority
2015-2016
2016-2017
Gross
Expenditure
Gross
Income
£000 £000
Net
Gross
Expenditure
£000
55,294 6,502 48,792 Fire Service
0 1,239 Contingency
1,239
Provision
0
225
(225)
Gross
Expenditure
Income
Net
Expenditure
£000 £000
£000
53,723 5,959 47,764
0 1,293
1,293
Interest on
Balances
0
225
(225)
55,016 6,184 48,832
56,533 6,727 49,806 Budget
Requirement
0 14,945 (14,945) Revenue Support Grant
0 13,180 (13,180)
0 9,980 (9,980) Top Up Grant
Rate
0 4,224 (4,224) Business
Local Share
0 206 (206) SFA Adjustment
0 10,064 (10,064)
0 4,285 (4,285)
0
0
128
141
83
0
0
207
(207)
0
(128) Section 31 Grant
Tax Collection
0
(141) Council
Fund Net (Surplus)/Deficit
172
241
(172)
(241)
0
277
83
Business Rates
Collection Fund Net
(Surplus)/Deficit
277
Tax
56,616 36,351 20,265 Council
Requirement 55,293 34,333 20,960
Page 21
Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria
Message from Vera Baird QC,
Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria
Neighbourhood policing is at the heart of everything we do, I know how
much you value the work of your neighbourhood police teams. During the
recent consultation regarding the council tax precept, comment after
comment mentioned how good our neighbourhood policing teams are,
they are our eyes and ears of the community, the teams help prevent
and detect crime and anti-social behaviour and are a re-assuring
presence, improving the quality of life for residents. These
neighbourhood officers also gather vital intelligence to help counter
the most serious crime.
Since 2010, we have seen Northumbria’s budget cut by more than
£108 million, this has resulted in the loss of 861 police officers and
940 specialist police staff. We’re also expecting Government to
continue to “top slice” police budgets, to pay for national policing
priorities. To deal with these financial pressures, tough funding
decisions have had to be taken. We have re-located police officers
out of expensive to maintain, inaccessible police stations to new
community hubs, based in the heart of the community – all savings
have been reinvested back into policing.
When calculating the overall policing budget, the Government has
anticipated that the police precept element of the council tax would
rise by £5. If we want to maintain our vital neighbourhood policing
services, we have to accept this decision. Through my prudent financial
planning and increased efficiency, combined with this increase – which
works out at about 1p per day for most homes, has allowed us to protect
the services that matter to you the most. We will ensure that police
officers are able to offer support to vulnerable people and tackle new
emerging crimes such as cyber fraud and child sexual exploitation.
Northumbria Police continues to be recognised as a force that delivers
for local communities, I will also ensure that the Chief Constable ensures
that your priorities are the priorities of Northumbria Police.
All the reports relating to the precept decision can be found on my
website at the following link http://www.northumbria-pcc.gov.uk/
transparency/finance/financial-info/precept-2016-17/
Page 22
Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria
2015 - 2016
2016 - 2017
Gross
Gross
Net
Expenditure
Income
Expenditure
£000
£000
Gross
Gross
Expenditure Income
£000 Service
£000
Net
Expenditure
£000
£000
281,011 21,192 259,819 Police General
276,871 15,723 261,148
259,819 Budget Requirement
261,148
LESS
218,747 Formula Grant
217,498
6,867 Council Tax
6,867
1,301 Legacy Council Tax Grants
1,301
Support Grant
283 Constituent
32,621
Authorities
Net Surplus
Council Tax
Requirement
£5.541m Charge on Newcastle
£88.33 Band "D"
Equivalent Charge
5,208 Staffing Levels at
1.4.16 (full time
equivalent)
535
34,947
£5.919m
£93.33
4,920
Change in Council Tax Requirement between years is attributable to: £000
Inflation, budget pressures and other budget adjustments
Reduction in government funding
Budget savings
Change in use of reserves
12,848
1,249
(15,298)
3,527
2,326
Page 23
Environment Agency North East Region
The Council Tax (Demand Notices) (England) Regulations 2011.
The Environment Agency is a levying body for its Flood and Coastal
Erosion Risk Management Functions under the Flood and Water
Management Act 2010 and the Environment Agency (Levies) (England
and Wales) Regulations 2011.
The Environment Agency has powers in respect of flood and coastal
erosion risk management for 1642 kilometres of main river and along
tidal and sea defences in the area of the Northumbria Regional Flood
and Coastal Committee. Money is spent on the construction of new
flood defence schemes, the maintenance of the river system and
existing flood defences together with the operation of a flood warning
system and management of the risk of coastal erosion. The financial
details are:
Northumbria Regional Flood
and Coastal Committee
Gross Expenditure
Levies Raised
Total Council Tax Base
2015-2016
2016-2017
683
696
£000
24,472
2,172
£000
20,373
2,215
The majority of funding for flood defence comes directly from the
Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
However, under the new Partnership Funding rule not all schemes will
attract full central funding.To provide local funding for local priorities and
contributions for partnership funding the Regional Flood and Coastal
Committees recommend through the Environment Agency a local levy.
A change in the gross budgeted expenditure between years reflects the
programme of works for both capital and revenue needed by the Regional
Flood and Coastal Committee to which you contribute. The total Local
Levy raised by this committee has increased by 2.0%
The total Local Levy raised has increased from £2,171,579 in
2015-2016 to £2,215,011 for 2016-2017.
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North East Combined Authority - NECA
The Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside,
Northumberland, South Tyneside and Sunderland Combined Authority
(known as the North East Combined Authority) was established on
15 April 2014 and took on the functions of the former Tyne and Wear
Integrated Transport Authority which was dissolved on the same date.
In accordance with the Transport Levying Bodies (Amendment)
Regulation 2015, NECA issues a levy on the Constituent Authorities
to fund Transport related expenditure.
Gross Transport Expenditure
2015-16 NECA 2016-17 NECA
Budget
Budget
£000
£000
Tyne Tunnel
Transport co-ordination and former ITA
Nexus
(Grant from ITA* and External Grants net of commercial income)
Durham (Grant from NECA*)
Northumberland (Grant from NECA*)
Income
Tyne Tunnels
Interest on ITA Revenue Balances
Net Transport Expenditure
Reserves:
Contribution from Tyne Tunnel Reserves
Contribution from Tyne and Wear
Transport Reserves
Contribution from Nexus Reserves
Expenditure Requirement
Funded by:
Tyne and Wear Transport Levy
Durham Transport Levy
Northumberland Transport Levy
Rail Grants and Miscellaneous Grants
Funding agreed by Authority
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28,966
2,789
29,972
2,743
95,007
16,072
5,895
148,729
91,982
15,435
6,329
146,461
(27,540)
(3)
(27,543)
121,186
(29,683)
(3)
(29,686)
116,775
(1,426)
(76)
(289)
(111)
(3,103)
116,581
(3,659)
112,716
(67,200)
(16,076)
(5,901)
(27,404)
(116,581)
(65,120)
(15,440)
(6,334)
(25,822)
(112,716)
North East Combined Authority - NECA
A comparison with previous NECA
Transport budget:
Inflation and other cost pressures
£000
5,419
Increased income
(3,959)
Budget reductions
(5,871)
Movement on contribution from reserves
546
3,865
*NECA makes an annual grant to the Tyne and Wear
Integrated Transport Executive (Nexus), Durham County Council
and Northumberland County Council in respect of revenue
support and concessionary travel.
Please note the Tyne Tunnels expenditure requirement is met fully
from Tunnels reserves and tolls income, with no levy funding.
Page 26
Garden waste collection service
Thank you to everyone who has signed up to our garden waste
collection service. You are doing your bit to look after
Newcastle's environment, now and in the future.
For just £20 per year we will collect your garden waste from
your home, so it's hassle-free and convenient.
Current customers, we will contact you soon by letter with
details on how to renew the service. If you pay by Direct Debit
your renewal will be automatic unless notified.
New customers can sign up to the service by visiting
www.newcastle.gov.uk/gardenwaste or phoning 0191 278 7878
(ask for garden waste).
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Key contact details
Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction
enquiries
Phone
Email
Website
0191 278 7878 and ask for benefits
[email protected]
www.newcastle.gov.uk/benefits
Minicom (for hearing difficulties)
Phone
0191 211 4944
Automated Payments (24 hours)
Phone
0191 278 7878 and ask for Payments
Freedom of Information / Data Protection enquiries
Phone
0191 277 7666
Valuation Office Agency
Phone
0300 050 1501
Valuation Tribunal
Phone
0300 123 2035
Citizens Advice Bureau
Phone
0344 245 1288
Money Matters
Phone
0191 277 1050
Welfare Rights Service
Phone
0191 277 2627
City Emergency Helpline
Phone
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0191 278 7878 and ask for Envirocall
How to get in touch about your council tax
Online
MyAccount is a free, interactive and secure online service that allows
you to access council tax, housing benefit (including a landlord service)
and business rates, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To register go
to www.newcastle.gov.uk/myaccount
With MyAccount you can:
• Check your account whenever you want
• Get access to your bills and notifications securely
• Get email alerts when new bills or notifications are issued
• Notify us immediately of any changes in your personal details.
For any queries or to report a change in circumstances you can also use
our online enquiry form at www.newcastle.gov.uk/ctenquiryform
By phone
On 0191 278 7878 and ask for council tax.
In person
You can call into any one of our Customer Service Centres. Staff can
provide advice and information on a range of council services, including
council tax and benefits. Please see www.newcastle.gov.uk for details
of opening times.
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