A guide
to your
Council Tax
2017/18
About your Council Tax bill and how to pay.
How we work out your Council Tax and what your
Council Tax pays for.
Further details of matters covered in this guide are available on the
Council website:
www.rotherham.gov.uk/counciltax
We also publish the Council’s performance and revenue budget
information online:
www.rotherham.gov.uk/council
Copies of this Council Tax information guide are available on request
by telephoning:
(01709) 336006
www.rotherham.gov.uk/counciltax
Message from the Leader
of Rotherham Council,
Cllr Chris Read
Since 2010 Rotherham Council has already
made £138m worth of savings, and reduced
our workforce by 1,700 jobs. This year we need
to address a further budget gap of £24m.
Because most of what the council spends is
funded by government grant, the unprecedented
and ongoing cuts to this funding, plus rising costs
and growing demand for services, continue to
mean that difficult decisions have to be taken.
•Hold more people to account for littering
and fly tipping for the cost of clearing up
their waste
•Continue to make capital investment available
to support development in the town centre
The majority of the council’s budget will continue
to be spent on the most vulnerable members of our
community, providing social care to children who
may be at risk of harm, the elderly and disabled.
The return of powers to the council from the
government over the last year reflects the
significant improvements we’ve made since 2014.
Of course there is plenty more to do, and none of
us should be complacent about that, but we are
on the right track.
Over the last two years, we have had thousands
of conversations with local residents about your
priorities for our borough. We have heard what
you have said about protecting children and our
most vulnerable residents, clean streets, and about
creating new jobs – including in the town centre.
Our budget responds to those priorities. In the
coming year the council will:
•Invest £10 million extra in continuing to improve
our child safeguarding services. As a result, we
will recruit more permanent social workers,
support more foster carers, and provide better
support to families so fewer children need to be
taken into care
•Begin to meet our commitment to a further
£10 million investment in road repairs and
resurfacing
1
In the last year, more than 4,000 people relied
on the Food for People in Crisis scheme, so our
budget also continues to provide food for so many
residents who would otherwise go without.
But because all this is against the backdrop of
the year-on-year reductions in our funding – our
seventh consecutive year of reductions, brought
about by the government’s programme of
austerity – the council also has to shrink.
The council will save money on back office support
services, and by using fewer buildings. We have
had to reduce Public Health contracts, including
ceasing council funding for the Ministry of Food.
We will raise more revenue from some more
commercial parts of the council’s operations, like
the Civic Theatre and Rother Valley Country Park.
But ultimately, the council will simply not be able
to afford some of the services that it is not obliged
to provide to the level that has existed until now.
There will undoubtedly be more difficult
decisions ahead.
Changes to your
Council Tax bill
The future
In common with most other parts of the country,
your bill includes a 3% rise in the Government’s
Adult Social Care precept – introduced to help
local authorities meet the rising cost and demand
for adult care services.
Reductions in our government funding will
continue in years to come – we estimate a further
budget gap of £42m in the following two years to
2019/20.
We expect these services to cost us around £62m
in 2017/18. This 3% precept rise will generate an
extra £2.7m dedicated towards this overall cost.
This money will especially go towards helping
vulnerable young people, and protecting some
existing services where costs and wages are rising.
This year you will also see a 1.99% increase in your
basic Council Tax, which helps to prevent a further
£1.8 million of cuts to wider council services.
Like all councils, the reality is we simply cannot
afford to do everything we have in the past. We
will scale back where we can, or work differently
alongside other agencies, to help us protect key
services.
Times remain challenging but we must continue
on our journey of improvement, working with
our community to ensure we’re delivering for
Rotherham.
Cllr Chris Read,
Leader of Rotherham Council
Overall this is a combined 4.99% rise in your bill
– for most of Rotherham’s households (54 % of
properties are in Band A) this will mean a weekly
increase of 85 pence.
2
How to pay less if
your income is low
Changes in Circumstances
If you are in receipt of Council Tax Reduction or
Housing Benefit, you must notify us immediately
of any changes in your circumstances.
Council Tax Reduction (CTR)
Contact Us
You can claim this – and reduce your bill for the
whole year – if you are liable to pay Council Tax
and:
For more information about CTR or 2AR
•You are on a low income
Visit our website at:
www.rotherham.gov.uk/youraccount
•You receive Income Support, Employment and
Support Allowance (income based), Jobseekers
Allowance or Pension Credit.
Email:
[email protected]
If you have savings or investments of more than
£16,000 you will not qualify (there are exceptions
if you receive Pension Credit Guarantee Credit).
Alternatively visit one of the Council’s Customer
Service Centres.
Telephone: 01709 336065
Rothercard
The reduction you receive may change if your
circumstances change during the year. You will
need to let us know and then you will receive a
revised bill.
This is a discount card scheme for people on
low incomes or over the age of 60. The scheme
provides discounted charges for many council
leisure facilities and from participating local
businesses.
Second Adult Rebate (2AR)
This is an alternative to the main Council Tax
For more information about Rothercard
Telephone 01709 336015.
Reduction (above). It can be claimed if:
•You are of pensionable age
•The only person liable for Council Tax in your
household and at least one other person over
the age of 18 lives with you, providing they are
not your partner, spouse, tenant or your joint
tenant.
You cannot receive Council Tax Reduction and
Second Adult Rebate at the same time.
3
About your Council
Tax bill
Direct Debit
The front of your bill shows the full amount we are
asking you to pay, along with information about
when your instalments are due.
Paying Council Tax by Direct Debit is really easy.
Why not join the 72,000 people who already use
this method of payment?
You can complete a Direct Debit form online at:
www.rotherham.gov.uk/youraccount
If you have any outstanding balance for the
previous year, this is not included in your
instalments.
If you are struggling to pay your Council Tax
please contact us and we may be able to give you
help or details of where you can obtain further
advice. Details of how to contact us, how and
where to make payments, are shown on your bill.
Discounts and Exemptions
Further details of these can be found in the
“Explanatory Notes” which are online.
Alternatively call today on 01709 336006 between
08.30 and 17.30 and have your bank account and
Council Tax account reference to hand.
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Easy
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day or night.
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it's simple to use.
Your personal
information
is safe and secure
at all times.
Use on the move,
use any device.
Post Office or PayPoint
www.rotherham.gov.uk/downloads
You can now pay a Council Tax bill or council
housing rent, free, at the Post Office or by:
4
Adult Social Care
Precept 2017/18
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 an additional
“precept” on its council tax for financial years
from 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” at an appropriate level
in each financial year up to and including the
financial year 2019/20.”
The council has elected to make use of this
flexibility and to increase its Council Tax by 3%
in 2017/18 specifically in respect of a precept for
adult social care services, which will be used to fund
investment in the council’s Adult Care budget.
Council Tax Band Value
Band
RMBC
SY Police
& Crime
Commissioner
SY Fire &
Rescue
Authority
Total
2017/18
Total
2016/17
£
£
£
£
£
Property value
A
Up to and including
£40,000
929.65
105.44
45.97
1,081.06
1,032.67
B
£40,001- £52,000
1,084.60
123.01
53.64
1,261.25
1,204.77
C
£52,001- £68,000
1,239.54
140.59
61.30
1,441.43
1,376.89
D
£68,001- £88,000
1,394.48
158.16
68.96
1,621.60
1,548.99
E
£88,001- £120,000
1,704.36
193.31
84.28
1,981.95
1,893.21
F
£120,001- £160,000
2,014.25
228.45
99.61
2,342.31
2,237.43
G
£160,001- £320,000
2,324.13
263.60
114.93
2,702.66
2,581.66
H
More than £320,000
2,788.96
316.32
137.92
3,243.20
3,097.98
Note: These figures exclude any Parish Precept
RMBC figure includes Adult Social Care Precept
5
How the council’s 2017/18
Net Revenue Budget is funded
100
95m
£ M illion
89m
75
50
25
0
Central Government
Grant - Settlement
Funding Assessment
5m
2m
10m
3m
New Homes
Bonus
Government
Grant in respect
of Business Rates
Use of
Reserves
Collection
Fund Surplus
Council Tax
Requirement
How we worked out your Council Tax
2016/17 £
2017/18 £
Amount for
each person £
199,521,000
204,826,000
781
- Formula Grant/Settlement Funding
Assessment and other grants
106,332,919
106,673,653
407
Collection Fund Surplus
4,000,000
3,000,000
11
Council Tax Requirement
89,188,081
95,152,347
363
Council Tax Base for Rotherham MBC
67,150
68,235
Band D Equivalent
1,328.20
1,394.48
South Yorkshire Police and Crime
Commissioner
51,569,498
54,315,453
Council Tax Base for South Yorkshire
336,703
343,421
Band D Equivalent
153.16
158.16
South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Authority
22,771,253
23,682,305
Council Tax Base for South Yorkshire
336,703
343,421
Band D Equivalent
67.63
68.96
Grand Total Band D Equivalent*
1,548.99
1,621.60
The Council’s Net Revenue Budget
Less:
Central Government Grants
Add:
* Note: This figure excludes any Parish Precept (See page 9 onwards) for Parish Precept Information)
6
41
18
How this year’s budget compares to
last year’s budget
Budget 2016/17
Gross
spending
£m
558.48
Budget 2017/18
Gross
spending
£m
Net
Income
spending
£m
£m
373.52
184.96
Council Services
Net
Income
spending
£m
£m
539.17
348.31
190.86
11.10
0.00
11.10
0.78
2.09
0.00
0.00
0.78
2.09
11.52
0.00
11.52
0.90
2.14
0.00
0.00
0.90
2.14
Levies payable:
SY Integrated Transport
Authority (ITA)
Other Levies etc.
Former SYCC Debt*
573.04
373.52
199.52
Cost of services:
553.14
348.31
204.83
84.56
84.56
0.00
637.70
432.87
204.83
83.49
83.49
0.00
Non Council Tax borne
services:
Housing
656.53
457.01
199.52
RMBC Total Expenditure
* Former SYCC Debt = South Yorkshire County Council Debt
Explanation for movement in the council’s
Net Budget
£ million
Reduction in Gross Expenditure for Council Services
-19.90
Less:
Reduction in funding from Fees, Charges & Specific Grants
Total Increase in Net Budget Requirement
25.21
5.31
The reasons for the total increase in Net Council Budget is shown below:
Inflation
4.98
Investment in key services
11.01
Net Service reductions & efficiencies
-10.68
Total
5.31
7
How the council spends its Net Revenue
Budget for 2017/18 (£204,826,000)
Directorate Net Revenue Budgets 2017/18
Amount £
Adult Care and Housing
£61,894,000
Children and Young People's Service
£62,164,000
Regeneration and Environment Service
£43,387,000
Finance and Customer Services
£13,541,000
Assistant Chief Executive’s Office
£5,367,000
Central Services
£18,473,000
Total Net Budget
Assistant Chief
Executive’s Office
£5,367,000
£204,826,000
Central Services
£18,473,000
Finance and
Customer Services
£13,541,000
Adult Care
and Housing
£61,894,000
Regeneration
and Environment
Service £43,387,000
Children and Young
People’s Service
£62,164,000
8
Environment Agency
Yorkshire Regional Flood and
Coastal Committee
Yorkshire Regional Flood and
Coastal Committee
2016/17
2017/18
2016/17
2017/18
£'000
£'000
£'000
£'000
Gross Expenditure
79,990
82,123
38,353
46,057
Levies Requirement
2,250
2,407
1,975
2,014
Council Tax Base
(Band D Properties)
1,428
1,453
1,727
1,781
NOTE: The Environment Agency has powers in respect of flood defence. The flood defence levy 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.
Parish Council Precepts
A breakdown of expenditure for Parish Councils with net expenditure greater than £140,000
2016/17
2017/18
Gross
Expend.
Gross
Income
Net
Epend.
Gross
Expend.
Gross
Income
Net
Expend
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
Recreation & Tourism
154
3
151
130
3
127
Other Services
149
16
133
167
16
151
Council Tax Reduction Scheme
(CTRS) Grant
0
21
-21
0
10
-10
Contributions to/from Reserves
0
0
0
0
0
0
Parish Total
303
40
263
297
29
268
Recreation & Tourism
174
5
169
174
5
169
Environmental Health
6
0
6
7
0
7
Highways
6
0
6
4
0
4
Other Services
108
10
98
111
10
101
Council Tax Reduction Scheme
(CTRS) Grant
0
24
-24
0
12
-12
Contributions to/from Reserves
2
0
2
0
0
0
Parish Total
296
39
257
296
27
269
Anston Parish Council
Aston-Cum-Aughton
Parish Council
9
2016/17
2017/18
Gross
Expend.
Gross
Income
Net
Expend.
Gross
Expend.
Gross
Income
Net
Expend
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
Recreation & Tourism
41
7
34
42
8
34
Environmental Health
3
0
3
3
0
3
Other Services
245
40
205
265
34
231
Council Tax Reduction Scheme
(CTRS) Grant
0
17
-17
0
8
-8
Contributions to/from Reserves
0
0
0
0
0
0
Parish Total
289
64
225
310
50
260
31
11
20
Brinsworth Parish Council
Dalton Parish Council
Recreation & Tourism
Not Required
Environmental Health
32
32
Other Services
91
91
Council Tax Reduction Scheme
(CTRS) Grant
11
-11
Contributions to/from Reserves
18
18
Parish Total
172
22
150
Dinnington St. John's
Town Council
Recreation & Tourism
121
49
72
122
54
68
Environmental Health
79
41
38
83
40
43
Other Services
88
2
86
108
3
105
Council Tax Reduction Scheme
(CTRS) Grant
0
18
-18
0
9
-9
Contributions to/from Reserves
0
0
0
3
0
3
Parish Total
288
110
178
316
106
210
10
2016/17
2017/18
Gross
Expend.
Gross
Income
Net
Expend.
Gross
Exoend.
Gross
Income
Net
Expend.
Recreation & Tourism
104
13
91
112
14
98
Other Services
122
1
121
124
15
109
Council Tax Reduction Scheme
(CTRS) Grant
0
28
-28
14
-14
Contributions to/from Reserves
0
0
0
Parish Total
226
42
184
236
43
193
Recreation & Tourism
56
0
56
59
0
59
Environmental Health
35
25
10
38
26
12
Other Services
83
0
83
78
0
78
Council Tax Reduction Scheme
(CTRS) Grant
0
16
-16
0
8
-8
Contributions to/from Reserves
18
0
18
20
0
20
Parish Total
192
41
151
195
34
161
Recreation & Tourism
63
5
58
65
5
60
Environmental Health
9
0
9
9
0
9
Highways
26
0
26
24
0
24
Other Services
58
6
52
65
2
63
Council Tax Reduction Scheme
(CTRS) Grant
0
15
-15
0
8
-8
Contributions to/from Reserves
19
0
19
13
0
13
Parish Total
175
26
149
176
15
161
Recreation & Tourism
114
42
72
131
52
79
Other Services
58
14
44
71
11
60
Highways
44
0
44
35
4
31
12
-12
6
-6
Maltby Parish Council
0
Thurcroft Parish Council
Wales Parish Council
Wickersley Parish Council
Council Tax Reduction Scheme
(CTRS) Grant
Contributions to/from Reserves
1
1
0
0
11
-11
Parish Total
217
69
148
237
84
153
11
Parish Council Precepts
Additional charges for parishes within the Rotherham Borough in 2017/18 are:
Band D £
2017/18
Total Precept £
2016/17
Total Precept £
Anston
94.09
267,742
262,750
Aston-cum-Aughton
63.63
268,970
256,904
Bramley
53.62
120,258
115,516
Brampton Bierlow
52.68
65,391
64,782
Brinsworth
112.45
260,444
225,222
Catcliffe
103.01
64,444
58,586
Dalton
61.47
150,000
136,000
Dinnington St. John's
92.23
209,646
178,146
Firbeck
56.98
7,850
7,500
Harthill with Woodall
72.26
46,542
42,305
Hellaby
35.61
8,751
8,803
Hooton Roberts
19.88
1,600
1,600
Laughton en le Morthen
55.66
24,432
22,034
Letwell
27.84
1,823
1,778
Maltby
47.96
192,885
183,700
Orgreave
38.00
24,602
20,650
Ravenfield
39.33
40,000
38,025
Thorpe Salvin
44.42
8,795
8,026
Thrybergh
76.50
62,700
57,766
Thurcroft
79.08
161,224
151,373
Todwick
67.32
43,663
42,925
Treeton
64.23
54,862
53,000
Ulley
92.25
6,214
6,213
Wales
80.68
160,908
149,232
Wentworth
32.14
17,642
17,284
Whiston
53.13
77,650
71,650
Wickersley
56.76
153,178
147,940
Woodsetts
105.73
62,978
59,839
2,565,194
2,389,549
Total Parish Precepts
12
If you or someone you know needs help to understand or read this document, please contact us:
 (01709) 336006
 [email protected]