Agenda item

The Cabinet approved:

2.1. The Tax Base calculation for 2021/22 of

i)Parish of Britwell    810.4

ii)Parish of Colnbrook with Poyle   1,830.3

iii)Parish of Wexham Court    1,348.3

iv)Slough Town  36,839.7

v)All areas  40,828.7

Band D equivalent properties;

The Cabinet noted:

2.2. A Council Tax collection rate of 98.2% for 2021/22; and

2.3. That the estimated deficit on the Council Tax Collection Fund as at 31 March 2021 was estimated to be £3,456k, of which £931k of this related to 2019-20 and £2,525k relates to 2020-21. The Council’s share of the deficit was £2,881k, of which £2,105k related to 2020-21 and would be spread across 3 years as instructed by the Government. The deficit to be repaid in 2021-22 by the Council was £1,478k.

The Executive Director of Corporate Services introduced a report that presented information on the properties in Slough and their categories of occupation for the purpose of determining the council taxbase for 2021/22.  A revised table at paragraph 5.6 of the report was tabled and noted.

The taxbases set out had been calculated by reference to data on dwellings within the borough provided by the Valuation Office Agency as at 30^th November 2020.  The calculations were summarised and it was noted that the aggregate figure of 41,577.1 was lower than the figure of 43,615.9 in 2020/21 due to the fact that Slough had seen a significant increase in Council Tax support claimants this year which reduced the tax base.  Working age claimants had increased by 74.7% as at quarter 2 2020/21 compared to the previous year.  There was a further reduction in the tax base as the collection rate was expected to decrease to 98.2% from 98.4% to reflect the likely increase in non-collection due to the impact of Covid-19.

Speaking under Rule 30, Councillor Strutton commented on the impact of Covid-19 on the Council’s revenue collection and asked whether the figures were realistic given the likely timescale for the economic recovery.  Assurance was provided that the figures were the most accurate available and they used published data from the relevant official bodies.

At the conclusion of the discussion, the recommendations were agreed.

Resolved –

(a)  That the Tax Base calculation for 2021/22 be approved as:

i)  Parish of Britwell    810.4

ii)  Parish of Colnbrook with Poyle    1,830.3

iii)  Parish of Wexham Court    1,348.3

iv)  Slough Town  36,839.7

iv)  All areas  40,828.7

Band D equivalent properties;

(b)  That the Council Tax collection rate of 98.2% for 2021/22 be noted; and

(c)  That the estimated deficit on the Council Tax Collection Fund as at 31 March 2021 was estimated to be £3,456k, of which £931k related to 2019-20 and £2,525k related to 2020-21. The Council’s share of the deficit was £2,881k, of which £2,105k related to 2020-21 and would be spread across 3 years as instructed by the Government. The deficit to be repaid in 2021-22 by the Council was £1,478k.