Agenda item

Approved:

  i.  The provision for uncollectable amounts of Council Tax for 2022-2023 be agreed at 1.8% producing an expected collection rate of 98.2%.

  ii.  the Council Tax base calculation for 2022/23 of 42,286.2 Band D equivalent dwellings (being 43,061.3 x 98.2%);

  iii.  that no notional funding is passported to Parish Councils in respect to Council Tax Support as was the case in 2021/22

Noted:

  iv.  the Council Tax base is broken down as follows between local parishes and the rest of Slough:

  v.  the ongoing work to estimate the 2021/22 year end Council Tax position

The Lead Member for Financial Oversight, Council Assets & Performance and the Director of Finance introduced a report on the number of properties in Slough and their categories of occupation for the purpose of determining the Council Tax base for the borough for the 2022/23 financial year.

Lead Members asked about the potential impact of the economic impacts of Covid-19 on the collection rate.  It was responded that the collection rate had been set at 98.2%, which was the same figure as for 2021/22 but lower than the 98.4% in 2020/21, due to the difficulties collecting Council Tax during and following the pandemic.  Recovery work for 2019/20 and 2020/21 Council Tax debt continued.  The Cabinet also noted the position regarding Parish Councils and Council Tax Support as set out in paragraphs 2.15 to 2.17 of the report.

Councillor Smith addressed the Cabinet and asked about the use of Covid grants to support families with children with Council Tax.  This query would be picked up outside of the meeting.

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

Resolved –

That it be approved that:

  i.  The provision for uncollectable amounts of Council Tax for 2022-2023 be agreed at 1.8% producing an expected collection rate of 98.2%;

  ii.  the Council Tax base calculation for 2022/23 of 42,286.2 Band D equivalent dwellings (being 43,061.3 x 98.2%);

  iii.  that no notional funding be passported to Parish Councils in respect to Council Tax Support as was the case in 2021/22.

That it be noted that:

  iv.  the Council Tax base be broken down as follows between local parishes and the rest of Slough:

  v.  the ongoing work to estimate the 2021/22 year end Council Tax position be noted.