Working together for youYour 2012/13 council tax and business rates explained

WelcomeNow more than ever, people are turning to their local authorities for support. It is therefore vital that we continue to provide those services that are important to you.

With a continuing reduction in the funding we receive from central government, we are working hard to ensure that we retain high quality value for money services for our residents.

This booklet outlines how your local authorities plan to spend the money raised from your council tax this year. Please take a few minutes to read through this information. You may find you are eligible to claim an exemption or discount, which could reduce how much council tax you need to pay. See pages 5-8 for more detail.

Council tax and business rates booklet 2012/20132

Tell us what you think of this bookletwww.staffordshire.gov.uk/counciltaxfeedback

Contents Page

Who does what? 3

Where does your money go? 4

Facts about your council tax bill 5

Benefit take-up 9

Pay by Direct Debit 10

Lichfield District Council 11

Stoke-on-Trent and StaffordshireFire & Rescue Authority

19

Staffordshire Police Authority 23

Staffordshire County Council 27

Non-domestic rates 31

Handy contacts 35

Review of discount 36

3Who does what?Each of the organisations that charge you council tax and/or business rates provide different services. This page highlights the main services provided. More information on each organisation is presented later in this booklet.

Stoke-on-Trent& StaffordshireFire & Rescue

Authority

Prevents fires and improves

safety

Provides an effective

and efficient emergency

response

Promotes fire and road safety

Prepared to deal with major

threats and emergencies

Works with partners to

improve quality of life

StaffordshirePolice

Authority

Helps make Staffordshire

safer

Investigatesand detects

crime

Promotescommunity

safety

Works toreduce the number of

casualties onour roads

Helpsreduce crime

Staffordshire County Council

Managesschools,

nurseriesand children’s

centres

Provides adult social care

Childcarehelp

Tradingstandards

advice

Wastedisposal

Provides arange of

cultural services

Publichealth

Promotesregeneration

Highwaymaintenance

LichfieldDistrictCouncil

Wastecollection

and recycling

Parks &open spaces

Maintainscar parks

Leisureservices

Planning &buildingcontrol

Electionadministration

Environmentalhealth

Supportfor the

homeless

Collection ofcouncil tax &

business rates

Housing &council tax

benefit

4 Where does your money go?

The table below shows how much of your council tax goes to each authority.

Who gets your money?Your bill is divided up like this (Band D)

Council tax£

Increasethis year

Lichfield District Council 146.37 3.4%

Fire & Rescue Authority 67.64 0%

Police Authority 177.61 0%

Staffordshire County Council 1,028.81 0%

Total amount Payable (Band D)* 1,420.43 0.3%

*This is the amount all Band D properties in Staffordshire will pay for their core services. However, parish, town and city councils will charge an additional amount to residents living in their areas to provide extra services. Please turn to the district/borough section to find out more.

The actual amount of council tax you pay will depend on which council tax band your property is in. Almost three-quarters of people in Staffordshire will pay less than the Band D charge. Any discounts and benefits you are entitled to receive may reduce your charge. For more information on council tax bands and discounts see pages 5-8.

Summary of your council tax chargeThe table below shows you what each authority plans to spend in the coming year and the amount each will raise from council tax.

LichfieldDistrictCouncil£ 000’s

Fire & RescueAuthority

£ 000’s

PoliceAuthority

£ 000’s

CountyCouncil£ 000’s

Gross spendingLess income

61,60451,250

44,9481,537

191,9279,195

1,267,300789,896

Net expenditure 10,354 43,411 182,732 477,404

Less Central Government support and other contributions

4,756 18,900 118,749 180,234

Amount to be raisedfrom council tax 5,598 24,511 63,983 297,170

To work out the Band D council tax we divide the amount to be raised from council tax by the number of Band D equivalent properties in Staffordshire.

73pto Staffordshire County Council

10p to Lichfield District Council

12p to Staffordshire Police Authority

5p to Fire & Rescue Authority

If you live in a parish, town or city council area, these councils will charge an additional amount.

5Facts about your council tax billIntroductionFind out more about your council tax bill, including information on discounts, exemptions and appeals.

How is council tax calculated?Your council tax is based on two adults living in a property.

If only one person lives there, they are entitled to a 25% discount.

If nobody lives there, the bill may be reduced by up to 50%. See page 6 for more detail.

Certain properties could be 100% exempt even if they are occupied. See page 7 for more detail.

Please remember, if you are waiting for the outcome of an application for a reduction, you must continue to pay your current bill. If successful, you will be entitled to a refund of any overpaid council tax.

Could I get a discount?This depends on the number of adults in your house and their circumstances. If any of the adults are on the list below, they may not be counted for council tax purposes. If this takes the number of ‘counted’ adults below two, you are eligible for a discount.

Full time students, student nurses, apprentices, youth training trainees and foreign language assistants.

Young people for whom child benefit is payable and 18/19 year olds who have just left school or college.

Patients resident in hospital or being looked after in care homes.

Severely mentally impaired people.

People in hostels or night shelters.

Low paid care workers usually for charities.

People caring for a person with a disability who is NOT a partner or child under 18.

Members of religious communities such as monks or nuns.

People in detention (except for non-payment of council tax or a fine).

Spouses or dependants of students who are non-British subjects and are prevented by immigration regulations from working or claiming benefits.

Members of visiting forces, certain international and defence organisations and those with diplomatic privilege or immunity.

6 Empty and second homesYou may be able to get a discount on your bill for empty or second homes. This will depend on where the property is. In some circumstances a discount may apply, for example if you live in job related accommodation.

Contact your local district or borough council to fi nd out more. See handy contacts on page 35.

Type of home Minimum Maximum Discount Discount Allowed Allowed

Empty 0% 50%

Furnished & 10% 50%2nd homes

The council tax team at your district or borough council will give you more information about their charges and may be able to refer you to someone who can give you advice about bringing your property back into use. See handy contacts on page 35.

Reduction for people with disabilitiesIf you, or someone who lives with you, needs a room, an extra bathroom or kitchen, or extra space in your property to meet special needs arising from a disability, your bill may be reduced.

The bill may be reduced to that of a property in the band immediately below the band of your property. If your property is in Band A, a reduction (equivalent to a band) will be given. This reduction is not based on your income or savings.

Council tax valuation bandsThe Valuation Offi ce Agency, part of HM Revenue and Customs (not your local council) has put every property into one of eight valuation bands.

A full list of valuation bands is available on its website at www.voa.gov.uk (see table below).

Band Range of Proportion values as at of Band D 1 April 1991 tax payable

A Up to and including 6/9 £40,000

B £40,001 to 7/9 £52,000

C £52,001 to 8/9 £68,000

D £68,001 to 1 £88,000

E £88,001 to 11/9 £120,000

F £120,001 to 13/9 £160,000

G £160,001 to 15/9 £320,000

H More than 2 £320,000

Your council tax bill states which band applies to your home and your home’s valuation is based on an estimate of how much it was worth on 1 April 1991. Price changes since that time won’t aff ect the valuation.

Could I be exempt from council tax?Some properties may be exempt from council tax.

A Undergoing or require major repair work or undergoing structural alteration (allowed for up to one year or six months from completion of the works, whichever is sooner)

C Unfurnished (allowed for up to six months)

E Previously occupied by a person in permanent residential care

H Waiting to be occupied by a minister of religion

K Owned by a student and last occupied by a studentK Owned by a student and last occupied by a studentK

Q The responsibility of a bankrupt person’s trustee

T Unable to let separately because it is linked to, or in the grounds, of another property

M/N All the residents are students

P At least one liable person is a member of a visiting force

U All residents are severely mentally impaired

W It is annexed to a family home and occupied by that family’s elderly or disabled relatives

Class Unoccupied properties which are:

B Owned by a charity (allowed for up to six months)

D Left empty by someone who has gone to prison

G Empty because occupation is forbidden by law

I Left empty by someone who has moved to receive personal care by reason of old age, disablement or illness

J Left empty by someone who has moved to provide personal care to another person

L Subject to a Repossession Order

R A site for a caravan, mobile home or mooring

Class Occupied properties where:

O They are used for UK armed forces accommodation, whether occupied or not

S All residents are less than 18 years old

V At least one liable person is a foreign diplomat

F Waiting for probate or letters of administration to be granted (continuous for up to six months after being granted)

7

8

8 Can I appeal against my council tax band?Yes, you may appeal against your council tax band. There are several situations where you can appeal against the band in which your house has been placed:

Within six months of becoming the new tax payer for the property.

Within six months of the Valuation Office Agency making a change to the band.

If there have been specific material changes in the property value.

Any queries about appeals and bandings should be made direct to the Valuation Office Agency. See handy contacts on page 35.

What if I don’t think I should be paying council tax?You can appeal to your district or borough council if you think you are not liable to pay council tax e.g. because you are not the

resident or owner, or because your property is exempt or you are entitled to a discount.

You should not withhold payment if you are making an appeal. You should pay as normal and a refund will be made if you are successful.

Changes in circumstancesIf you have been granted a reduction you must tell the council of any change in circumstances which will affect your entitlement within 21 days. If you fail to do so you may be faced with a penalty of £70. For more details about council tax discounts see pages 5-7.

The district or borough council is required under section 6 of the Audit Commission Act 1998 to participate in the National Fraud Initiative (NFI) data matching exercise. Council tax data is provided to the Audit Commission for this purpose and will be used for cross-systems and cross-authority comparison for the prevention and detection of fraud.

We advise council tax payers that the data held by the council in respect of your council tax liability will be used for comparison purposes.

The eight district and borough councils within the Staffordshire area are also working in partnership with Staffordshire County Council to conduct a review of council tax discounts. The council may share

the information you have provided to the council tax team, with private organisations employed to conduct data matching for the prevention and detection of fraud.

Data matching helps to identify fraud but it may also identify claims and payments which are erroneous. Where a match is found it may indicate that there is an inconsistency which requires further investigation. No assumption is made as to whether there is fraud, error or another explanation until an investigation is carried out.

If you are currently in receipt of a council tax discount that you are not entitled to, or require further information, please contact your local district or borough council tax team. See handy contacts on page 35.

How we collect and use information

9

Struggling to pay yourrent or council tax?

Could you be one of the 35% of people who are entitled to money off their council tax bill but haven’t claimed it?

Remember - welfare benefi ts such as housing benefi t and council tax benefi t are legal rights.

Many people do not know about these benefi ts, some others may think they will not be entitled because they have a retirement pension and a few savings.

Why not fi nd out if you are one of these people by contacting your local district or borough council.

If you are worried about paying yourcouncil tax bill, we can reduce your bill where:

You live alone

You are disabled and your property has been adapted because of this

You are being cared for somewhere other than your main home

The property we billed you for is a second home or is empty

There is someone living in your home that is over 18 and severely mentally impaired

Could you be one of the 35% of people who are entitled to money off their council tax bill but haven’t claimed it?

Do you need fi nancial

advice about benefi ts?

Would you like to

know if you can get

help to pay for your rent

and council tax?

www.lichfi elddc.gov.ukor phone 01543 308900

10

Pay the easy waySign up for Direct Debit over the phone

Choose which date suits you bestCouncil tax Business rates

Phone us on

01543 308900

Have your bill and

bank details ready.

8th8th 18th

We provide a wide range of local services for around £2.81* a week. Find out how we spent your money to make a difference last year…*Based on an average Band D property.

People and communitiesWe dealt with more than 7,000 housing and council tax benefit claims in 2011. www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/benefits

Our community safety team worked withfamilies to reduce anti-social behaviouracross the district.

From lantern parades and summer fetes, to IT courses and fencing lessons, we worked in partnership to host lots of community events.

Our volunteer drivers took 7,548 people on 613 local journeys in our community transport mini buses. Overall they clocked up 19,667 miles!

We helped to develop and support six work clubs across the district. These offered information and advice on employment and training to more than 100 local people.

We invited not for profit organisations to apply for a share of £588,000 to spend on key services over the next three years. We also gave out £31,000 in grant aid to 39 local community groups.

We donated £25,000 to help launch the We Love Lichfield Fund that will provide small grants to local community groups.www.staffsfoundation.org.uk/welovelichfield

11

We’re proud to deliver good value local services to you

Pigs Parade - The Lichfield Festival

Keeping local areas greenWe look after 16 play areas and manage more than 100 parks and open spaces, which altogether cover about 606 hectares of green space!

We planted around 65,000 bedding plants across the district.

We restored three of Lichfield’s important historic parks, including the Garden of Remembrance, Minster Pool & Walk and Beacon Park. www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/historicparks

From searching for bats to history walks, we held 28 events to help people get up close to nature.

We unveiled a second wooden boardwalk at Chasewater Country Park to protect the wet lowland heathland, which was being damaged by people’s footsteps.

We launched the Countryside & Parks Conservation Group, which meets on the first Wednesday of every month, and helps us to conserve the district’s parks, open spaces and protected habitats.

Creating a cleaner andgreener environmentWe removed litter from roughly 903,134 metres of roads, streets and green areas. We also cleaned graffiti off five areas and investigated 27 abandoned cars.

We continued to work in partnership with Tamworth Borough Council to collect waste and recycling from across Lichfield and Tamworth, recycling even more at a lower cost.

We investigated more than 250 reports of dumped waste across the district.

We’re working to cut the amount of litter and dog fouling in our district. In 2011, we fined five people for littering and not cleaning up after their dogs, and prosecuted someone for a fly-tipping offence and another for noise pollution.

We visited 42 commercial premises to make sure they are not damaging the environment, and took a factory to court for emitting a high level of dangerous solvents.

We picked up 148 lost dogs and worked to reunite them with their owners. We also launched a £5 dog micro-chipping service. www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/dogchip

12

Conservation work at Gentleshaw Common

Waste & recycling shared service

Getting fit, fun and creative

Around one million people enjoyed great value activities at our three leisure centres.

We helped children to have a summer of fun, and provided nearly 3,000 places on our playschemes. Our leisure centres and parks also offered holiday clubs, activities and courses.

Almost 4,000 children joined our play rangers to build dens, try cooking, skateboarding and more.

Hundreds of people of all ages showed off their creative flair at our Big Draw events in October.

In the last year, more than 100,000 people attended performances at the Lichfield Garrick.

Developing our district Last year our planning team determined 807 planning applications.

We launched the Southern Staffordshire Building Control Partnership, which works to provide a safe built environment across southern Staffordshire, and will help us to make savings.

We awarded more than £400,000 section 106 funding to 27 Lichfield projects – from refurbishing a village hall, to creating a community café.

We invited groups with plans to improve Fazeley, Bonehill or Mile Oak, to apply for up to £175,000 section 106 funding, and offered £37,000 to projects in Armitage with Handsacre.

More than 4,500 people gave us their feedback on our future development plans for the district, and 755 people came to our rural exhibitions to give their views on local housing, jobs, services, transport and more.

Hundreds of people came to see the revised plans for the new Friarsgate shopping centre, when they went on display in early 2012.

Helping people in their homes

We gave more than 1,400 people housing advice and around 2,780 people registered with the online social housing register, UChoose.

In partnership with Energy Saving Trust, we helped more than 400 people to install energy saving measures in their homes. www.warmandgreen.co.uk

Through the government sponsored Mortgage Rescue Scheme, we helped five families to stay in their homes.

We helped older and disabled residents to adapt their homes by giving out around £530,000 in grants to 97 households.

13

Offering children a summer of fun

A Christmas Carol at the Garrick

We’re proud to still be among the lowest council tax charging district councils in the country.

Boosting our town, city and rural villages We helped to organise Think Local 4 Business. The event showcased local business talent and gave companies a chance to ‘meet the buyers’ and to network.

We manage 27 car parks that offer 2,116 parking spaces across Lichfield and Burntwood.

We worked to bring the 2012 Olympic Torch Relay through our district on Saturday 30 June. We’re working with our partners to organise a day of celebration, including community games and races, performances and more across the district. www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/olympictorch

We helped organise Lichfield’s popular Heritage Weekend and Christmas Festival.

Thousands of people came to our free Lichfield Proms in Beacon Park. It was an opportunity to enjoy a late summer outdoor concert and fireworks.

We published a range of visitor and what’s on guides to encourage more people to visit our district. www.visitlichfield.co.uk

We helped bring the summer’s Staffordshire Hoard on Tour to Lichfield Cathedral. Nearly 15,000 people saw the display of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver. www.staffordshirehoard.org.uk

We carried out 444 inspections of cafés and restaurants to make sure they are hygienic and safe. www.ratemyplace.org.uk

Serving you well Our customer services team, Lichfield Connects, dealt with around 135,000 enquires last year.

We launched a Staffordshire Cares customer services point in our main reception, and offered advice on a range of issues, such as coping with a disability.

We helped over 20,000 people with advice, training, local information and more at the Old Mining College Centre in Chasetown.

14

The Olympic Torch Relay ispassing through the district!

Staffordshire Hoard on Tour

About your billWe are among the lowest charging district councils in the country and, on average, charge £20 less a year than other district councils.

To make sure we can continue to deliver fi rst class services, we have increased our part of the council tax bill by 3.4%. This will mean you will pay 9p extra a week on average for the services we provide - such as emptying your bins, cleaning streets and parks, and running leisure centres.

*Based on an average Band D property.

Did you know?Lichfi eld District Council keeps just under 10% of the total council tax you pay. We give the rest to Staff ordshire County Council, parish councils, and the police and fi re services.

Where else do we getmoney from?

Council tax funds only 9.1% of the services we deliver. We also get government grants and use income from other sources to fund local services.

Lichfi eld District Council Meeting the challengeThis has been another challenging fi nancial year for local government, with large cuts in central government funding.

Our savings programme has meant we are in a good position to meet the challenges we’re facing. In the last six years, we’ve cut our budget by nearly £12.415 million.

We have continued to join our services with other local councils to make sure we off er good value for money.

Just some of our shared services… Joint waste and recycling service - with

Tamworth Borough Council

Southern Staff ordshire Building Control Partnership - with South Staff ordshire Council and Tamworth Borough Council

Human resources and payroll - with Staff ord Borough Council

Out of hours call monitoring - Cannock Chase District Council

Shared health and safety service - with Staff ord Borough Council and Tamworth Borough Council

Shared information computer technology - with Staff ordshire Moorlands, High Peak District Council and High Peak Housing

Business support services - with Tamworth Borough Council

Shared internal audit - with South Staff ordshire Council

Contact usTo contact us, visit www.lichfi elddc.gov.uk or call us on 01543 308000 Mondayto Friday, from 8.45am to 5pm.

15

42.3% - Income 9.1% - Council tax payers 0.2% - Interest on investments 7.7% - Central government grants 39.8% - Housing and council tax benefi t grants0.9% - Revenue reserves (amounts set aside for service spending)

16 Parish council preceptsHow much parish council tax do you pay in your area?

Each parish receives an amount (precept), to help them deliver services in the local area. Find out what your parish council receives, and how much you will pay for the services where you live, using the table below.

Find your parish from the list below

2011/12 (last year)

Parish councilcouncil tax

(£)

Parish council council tax

(average home Band D)

(£)

2012/13(this year)

Parish council council tax

(£)

Parish council council tax

(average home Band D)

(£)

Alrewas 34,000 27.34 34,000 27.53

Armitage with Handsacre 63,368 37.19 68,508 38.80

Burntwood 251,380 29.15 256,142 29.74

Clifton Campville with Thrope Constantine 14,767 39.64 15,480 41.89

Colton 10,920 34.56 12,012 37.60

Curborough & Elmhurst + Farewell & Chorley 3,100 11.96 3,100 11.98

Drayton Basset 21,629 46.66 21,629 47.32

Edingale 11,330 40.83 11,330 40.08

Elford 14,710 48.72 12,500 41.28

Fazeley 57,872 38.85 57,872 38.63

Fradley & Streethay 51,000 36.30 51,000 36.18

Hammerwich 20,000 14.28 20,000 14.02

Harnstall Ridware 3,250 21.37 3,250 21.47

Harlaston 6,000 30.53 6,000 31.12

Hints and Canwell 5,685 29.17 7,000 36.82

Kings Bromley 12,880 22.70 12,880 22.59

Lichfield 630,500 51.61 634,300 51.61

Longdon 13,650 17.10 13,650 17.23

Mavesyn Ridware 14,000 31.59 14,000 31.26

Shenstone 129,000 36.05 129,000 35.80

Swinfen & Packington 2,600 17.52 3,600 24.39

Wall 4,750 23.55 4,750 23.80

Weeford 1,540 16.40 1,540 16.38

Whittington & Fisherwick 43,225 37.40 44,090 37.99

Wiggington & Hopwas 14,000 29.94 19,000 40.31

Parish councils that receive more than £140,000 to deliver local services are Burntwood Town Council and Lichfield City Council.

Parish councils who receive over £100,000

2011/12 (last year) 2012/13 (this year)Expenditure

£’000Income£’000

Precept£’000

Expenditure£’000

Income£’000

Precept£’000

Burntwood Town Council 253 -2 251 256 0 256

Lichfield City Council 923 -292 631 892 258 634

17Council tax: What you will pay?Use the table below to find out how much your council tax charge will be this year. The amount you pay depends on where you live (your parish area) and the value of your home (your valuation band). If you have any questions please call 01543 308900. The figures do not include any discounts or benefit entitlement that you may receive.

Proportion of Band D Band A(6/9)

Band B(7/9)

Band C(8/9)

Band D(1)

Band E(11/9)

Band F(13/9)

Band G(15/9)

Band H(2)

Alrewas 965.30 1126.19 1287.08 1447.96 1769.73 2091.50 2413.26 2895.92

Armitage with Handsacre 972.82 1134.96 1297.10 1459.23 1783.50 2107.77 2432.05 2918.46

Burntwood 966.78 1127.91 1289.05 1450.17 1772.43 2094.69 2416.95 2900.34

Clifton Campville with Thorpe Constantine

974.88 1137.36 1299.85 1462.32 1787.28 2112.24 2437.20 2924.64

Colton 972.02 1134.02 1296.03 1458.03 1782.04 2106.04 2430.05 2916.06

Curborough & Elmhurst and Farewell & Chorley

954.94 1114.10 1273.26 1432.41 1750.72 2069.03 2387.35 2864.82

Drayton Bassett 978.50 1141.58 1304.67 1467.75 1793.92 2120.08 2446.25 2935.50

Edingale 973.67 1135.95 1298.24 1460.51 1785.07 2109.62 2434.18 2921.02

Elford 974.47 1136.89 1299.30 1461.71 1786.53 2111.36 2436.18 2923.42

Fazeley 972.70 1134.83 1296.95 1459.06 1783.29 2107.53 2431.76 2918.12

Fradley & Streethay 971.07 1132.92 1294.77 1456.61 1780.30 2103.99 2427.68 2913.22

Hammerwich 956.30 1115.68 1275.07 1434.45 1753.22 2071.98 2390.75 2868.90

Hamstall Ridware 961.26 1121.48 1281.69 1441.90 1762.32 2082.74 2403.16 2883.80

Harlaston 967.70 1128.98 1290.27 1451.55 1774.12 2096.68 2419.25 2903.10

Hints and Canwell 971.50 1133.42 1295.34 1457.25 1781.08 2104.91 2428.75 2914.50

Kings Bromley 962.01 1122.35 1282.69 1443.02 1763.69 2084.36 2405.03 2886.04

Lichfield 981.36 1144.92 1308.49 1472.04 1799.16 2126.28 2453.40 2944.08

Longdon 958.44 1118.18 1277.93 1437.66 1757.14 2076.62 2396.10 2875.32

Mavesyn Ridware 967.79 1129.09 1290.40 1451.69 1774.29 2096.88 2419.48 2903.38

Shenstone 970.82 1132.62 1294.43 1456.23 1779.84 2103.44 2427.05 2912.46

Swinfen & Packington 963.21 1123.75 1284.29 1444.82 1765.89 2086.96 2408.03 2889.64

Wall 962.82 1123.29 1283.77 1444.23 1765.17 2086.11 2407.05 2888.46

Weeford 957.87 1117.52 1277.17 1436.81 1756.10 2075.39 2394.68 2873.62

Whittington & Fisherwick 972.28 1134.33 1296.38 1458.42 1782.51 2106.60 2430.70 2916.84

Wigginton and Hopwas 973.82 1136.13 1298.44 1460.74 1785.35 2109.96 2434.56 2921.48

Your house is placed in one of eight council tax bands (A to H), using the valuation carried out by the District Valuer in 1991. The amount of council tax you pay will depend on the value of your property. Band D (shown below) is used to calculate the council tax for each property and to compare ourselves to others. The bands are worked out as a proportion of the Band D amount.

18 District services you help to fund

The services we deliver include

2011/12 (last year) 2012/13 (this year)

Collecting and disposing of wasteand recycling

5,019 -2,896 2,123 5,192 -2,915 2,277

Sports activities, leisure centres, playschemes and more

5,616 -2,580 3,036 5,384 -2,537 2,847

Cleaning streets and roads 758 -154 604 787 -155 632

Environmental health: inspectingrestaurants, bars and clubs for foodhygiene, noise, and more

1,194 -277 917 1,011 -259 752

Planning and building control: processing planning applications and ensuring developments meet required standards

3,216 -1,625 1,591 4,060 -2,675 1,385

Housing and welfare services 1,939 -1,070 869 2,167 -611 1,556

Providing council tax and housing benefits 28,170 -27,218 952 26,263 -25,356 907

Boosting our economy through economic development and tourism

1,736 -1,434 302 1,419 -1,241 178

General cultural and commercial services 5,030 -4,204 826 5,030 -4,208 822

Corporate activities 3,311 -441 2,870 3,071 -357 2,714

Service spend/income 7,337 -7,338 -1 7,207 -7,164 43

Capital, pension reserves 0 -2,155 -2,155 0 -3,108 -3,108

Interest receipts/payments 12 -136 -124 13 -129 -116

Use of reserves 0 -1,550 -1,550 0 -535 -535

Government grants 0 -4,867 -4,867 0 -4,756 -4,756

Collection fund 0 -4 -4 0 0 0

Total Lichfield District Councilbudget requirement 63,338 -57,949 5,389 61,604 -56,006 5,598

We hope you have found the information on these pages informative and easy to read. If you have any views on how we could improve the information we provide, please email nina.dawes@lichfielddc.gov.uk or michael.wilcox@lichfielddc.gov.uk

Local levyThe Environment Agency manages local flood defences through the Severn Trent Regional Flood Defence Committee. Along with other statutory bodies, Staffordshire County Council contributes towards the cost of this work through a local levy.

Severn Trent Regional FloodDefence Committee

2011/12£’000

2012/13£’000

Gross expenditure £51,066 £43,004Levies raised £3,000 £3,000Total council tax base £2,924 £2,939

We spent£’000 onservices

We will spend£’000 onservices

We made£’000

income

We project£’000

income

Our netspend

was £’000

Our netspend is set to be £’000

Making Staff ordshire thesafest place to be

Staff ordshire Fire and Rescue Service is an ambitious, forward thinking organisation that is widely acknowledged as one of the top performing, yet lowest costing fi re and rescue authorities in the country.

Our corporate aimsPrevent and ProtectOur communities from loss of life and injuries resulting from fi res and other emergencies.

RespondEff ectively to fi res and other emergencies.

EngageWith our communities, partners and our people.

DeliverA continually improving service ensuring value for money with staff that understand and refl ect the diversity of our communities.

Our corporate objectivesOur eight corporate objectives set out what we do to achieve our aims.

1. Prevent fi res and improve safety.

2. Reduce deaths and injuries from fi res, road traffi c incidents and other emergencies.

3. Provide an eff ective and effi cient emergency response with resources targeted to risk.

4. Be prepared to deal with major threats and emergencies.

5. Improve communication and increase our understanding of the diverse needs of our communities.

6. Work with our communities to improve quality of life.

7. Deliver a service that is committed to providing value for money.

8. Provide a continuously improving and high performing organisation.

Stoke on Trent and Staff ordshireFire and Rescue Authority

19

Transforming how we workWe are a modern, forward thinking organisation that is rising to the challenges ahead. We are on track to make the £4 million savings we need by 2015 with approximately two thirds of the savings already identified through new ways of working. Importantly, these savings have been made without compromising firefighter or community safety and by maintaining the level of service the people of Staffordshire expect.

Investment in our communities Construction on the Authority’s first Private Finance Initiative (PFI) project has now finished and has provided ten new Community Fire Stations at Rising Brook, Sandyford, Tamworth, Uttoxeter, Cannock, Hanley, Burslem, Newcastle, Kidsgrove and Tamworth Mercia.

Our stations, at Cheadle, Wombourne, Longnor, Biddulph and Gnosall, have also been fully refurbished and now include community facilities.

Construction is due to start on our second PFI project at the end of 2012 and will provide state of the art facilities at Burton, Rugeley, Chase Terrace, Leek, Ashley, Penkridge, Lichfield, Kinver, Codsall, Stone and Longton.

We have purchased a new engine that comes complete with animal rescue equipment to be based in the north of the county in Leek, which will be sent to incidents involving animals that need rescuing. This new equipment is all designed for safe, efficient animal rescues which are humane to the animal. Having this vehicle means that instead of sending one or even two fire engines to animal rescues, we can send this appliance and it has all of the equipment we’ll need on board.

20

Our commitment to transparencyThis year we have been praised for being well positioned to meet the financial challenges ahead. The Audit Commission’s annual audit identified that as a service we continue to manage our finances well, have arrangements to ensure good value for money and have a clear plan to deliver the necessary savings required over the next four years.

We continue to publish monthly spends over £500 and salaries over £50,000 on our website, the first fire and rescue authority in the country to do so. We intend to release as much information as early as possible to remain as transparent to the communities we serve. All information can be found at www.staffordshirefire.gov.uk/ourfinances.asp

Community safety campaigns

In October we re-launched our popular ‘Push the Button’ campaign, which promotes the importance of weekly smoke alarm testing. We linked up with partner organisations and local businesses such as Alton Towers, Fox’s Biscuits and Stoke City Football Club to push our message even further. During the week of the campaign launch we saw an increase of over 40,000 views of our ‘Push the Button’ video on You Tube, a fantastic achievement.

Each winter we communicate the importance of Home Fire Risk Checks for the elderly and vulnerable. Tragically ten elderly people have

lost their lives as a result of fire in their homes in the last two years. Older people are the most likely to die in house fires. Preventing these incidents from happening becomes our main focus as the weather gets cold.

We are running a number of initiatives to ensure older people are as safe as possible in their homes. One of the most successful, ‘Olive Branch’ involves training home visitors, such as care workers, to identify fire hazards in the home and make referrals to the fire and rescue service. Over 2,500 people have now received the training and they have identified nearly 900 vulnerable individuals who are at risk of fire. We have then visited these properties and carried out free Home Fire Risk Checks.

Reducing community riskOur dedicated risk reduction teams continue to work alongside their local communities and with partner organisations to keep our communities as safe as possible. They focus on those target groups at risk and prevent accidents through education and intervention.

For example Tamworth’s risk reduction team worked alongside young people to create a DVD aimed at preventing grass fires. The DVD has been created by ten young offenders aged between 14 and 16 who have a history of starting small fires deliberately and other anti-social behaviour offences. The film was written and produced by the group and will be used in this year’s grass fires prevention campaign to get this important prevention message out to our communities.

21

Contact usDirector of Assets & ResourcesTel: 08451 221155

E-mail: fi nance@staff ordshirefi re.gov.uk

Address:Freepost RRHA-KXUA-GTST, Pirehill, Stone,Staff ordshire ST15 0BS

Website: www.staff ordshirefi re.gov.uk

Find us on Facebook Staff ordshire fi re and rescue

Follow us on Twitter @staff sfi re

What the money is spent on

Our performance and expenditureWhat the money delivers

4%3%

5% 3%

67%

9%9%

80%

19%

1%

Council tax level for all bands

Band A B C D E F G H

Council tax 45.09 52.61 60.12 67.64 82.67 97.7 112.73 135.28

Proportion of Band D 6/9 7/9 8/9 9/9 11/9 13/9 15/9 18/9

22

Employees£29.0m

Otheremployee costs£1.9m

Premises£2.3m

Transport£1.3m

Suppliesand services£3.8m

Capital fi nancing£4.1m

Total £43.4 Million Total £43.4 Million

Emergencyresponse£34.9m

Other£0.3m

Communityfi re safety£8.2m

Reserves£1.0m

Staffordshire Police Authority is responsible for ensuring that there is an effective and efficient police service for the people of Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. The 17 members of the Authority work with the Chief Constable to ensure that the policing service provided meets the needs of local people and deals with the things that matter to them. In November this year, that responsibility will pass to a new Policing and Crime Commissioner. This person will be elected by the voters of Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent and will be responsible for setting the budget and agreeing the strategic direction of the force, through challenging objectives and targets.

Policing priorities for 2012/13Our focusStaffordshire Police’s mission is to keep our communities safe and reassured. This is supported by an overarching strategic priority of ensuring that local police are dealing with the things that matter to their community. This important indicator is measured through an independent survey.

Delivering quality services

To deliver quality services we will:

ensure at least 89 per cent of victims of crime are satisfied with the overall service they receive

ensure at least 87 per cent of anti-social behaviour victims are satisfied with the overall service they receive.

Reducing crime and disorder

To reduce crime and disorder we will:

reduce the number of violent crimes with injury (including those related to domestic abuse) by five per cent

ensure no increase in the number of serious acquisitive crimes. Serious acquisitive crime includes household burglary, vehicle crime, personal robbery and business robbery.

Protecting the public from harm

To protect the public from harm we will:

achieve a sanction detection rate of at least 60 per cent for priority violence with injury. The sanction detection rate is the percentage of crimes for which someone is charged, summonsed, receives a caution or other formal sanction

achieve a sanction detection rate for serious acquisitive crime of 21 per cent

achieve a sanction detection rate of 31 per cent for rape and other serious sexual offences

achieve a resolution rate for hate crimes of at least 57 per cent. Resolutions include sanction detections or community resolutions

ensure no increase in the number of people killed and seriously injured in road collisions.

Value for moneyTo ensure efficient and effective services we will:

maximise staff availability by reducing sickness absence rates

ensure that the force is affordable and efficient in line with the medium-term financial strategy.

What the money delivers

Your LocalPolicing Summary

23

OverviewThe Police Authority has agreed its budget for 2012/13 and accepted the government offer of a one year only tax freeze grant which means that the standard Band D council tax will remain at £177.61. The Authority was concerned that, in view of the fact that this grant is for one year only, it reduces the base funding in future years thus increasing the scale of savings that will be required from 2013/14 onwards. The Authority is committed to the need to protect local neighbourhoods and, in conjunction with the Chief Constable, is doing all that it can to protect front line policing.

This will be the final budget set by the Authority as there will be elections for the new Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) on 15 November 2012. As well as setting the budget the PCC will hold the force and Chief Constable to account, consult the public and victims of crime and monitor complaints.

IntroductionIn 2012/13 we are planning to spend £191.927 million in comparison to the £198.321 million that we are spending in 2011/12. This is a reduction of £6.394 million and has been met by savings of £5.175 million on pay, net price reductions of £1.121 million and lower capital financing costs to the value of £0.098 million.

Government supportFunding from the government in the form of police grant, revenue support grant and business rates will reduce by £8.252 million or 6.7 per cent to £114.850 million. The specific grant in support of neighbourhood policing will stay at the same level as for 2011/12.

Council taxIn 2012/13 the police precept (the council tax for police services) will stay at the same level as 2011/12. For a standard Band D council taxpayer this figure is £177.61.

In agreeing this year’s budget, the Authority has had to make some difficult decisions, given the testing financial situation all of us currently face. The Authority is acutely aware of the need to protect neighbourhood policing, and as such, the budget detailed here reflects that desire. Unfortunately however, given the significant reduction in government funding, changes have had to be made, but the Authority has worked closely with the Chief Constable to ensure that, wherever possible, this does not impact on the effectiveness of policing services.

The Authority continues to seek greater efficiencies in the way policing is delivered, to ensure that we deliver the maximum value for money for taxpayers, about a third of which comes from the local council tax. We have supported the Chief Constable’s ‘Communities First’ programme of transformational change as we believe this is how policing should be delivered in the future. In addition, we will strive to work with the force to explore further opportunities, through collaboration with other police forces and service providers, to find better ways of providing organisational and operational support functions. Above all we will strive to ensure that we have the right people with the right skills and investment in place to provide a level of policing which protects you and is there when you need it.

If you would like to read our policing plan for 2012/13 in full, (‘Policing Staffordshire - Strategy and Plan’) please log on to www.staffordshire.police.uk and go to the publications pages of the ‘about us’ section.

Our Spending Plans for 2012/1324

Analysis of 2012/13 budget

CapitalThe Police Authority is planning to spend £9.9 million in 2012/13. This is mainly on vehicles, new IT systems and the refurbishment of buildings.

Our staff These fi gures are the FTE (full time equivalent) budgeted numbers of staff .

Police Offi cers 1,915

Police Staff 1,154

Police Community Support Offi cers 213

Special Constables 525

Employee numbers are forecast to fall by 139 in 2012/13 as a result of the need to identify the savings required. It should be noted that around 86 per cent of our budget is related to pay costs. However, we remain committed to protecting front line services to our communities.

Police Offi cers

RunningCosts

Police Authority Budget (includingfi nance charges)

Police Staff and CommunitySupport Offi cers

£3.9m

£111.6m

£30.1m£46.3m

Our Spending Plans for 2012/1325

Over the past year overall crime in Staff ordshire and Stoke-on-Trent has fallen. Violent crime with injury has fallen by more than 20 per cent which is nearly 1,800 fewer incidents. Also, serious sexual off ences have reduced by more than eight per cent. We have also increased our sanction detection rate for serious violent crimes by more than 15 per cent. The sanction detection rate is the percentage of crimes for which someone is charged, summonsed, receives a caution or other formal sanction.

Feedback from victims of anti-social behaviour (ASB) shows that nearly nine out of ten are satisfi ed with the overall service we provide them and a similar number of crime victims in the force area are satisfi ed with the overall service we provide.

Crime, on the whole has been reducing over the past fi ve years and more crimes have been detected. The numbers of serious acquisitive crimes have been reduced by nearly fi ve per cent, which is around 450 fewer incidents and the sanction detection rate for serious sexual off ences has increased by more than two per cent.

For the last ten years we have been working hard with our partners to make our roads safer. The numbers of people killed or seriously injured fell steadily during that time. Despite the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads last year rising from 284 to 286, we remain committed to working, as part of the Safer Roads Partnership, to reduce that number.

If you would like to help shape policing in Staff ordshire, why not become a member of our Citizens’ Panel? Find out more by visiting the ‘Information zone’ section of the force website www.staff ordshire.police.uk.

How we performed in 2011*

* All data relates to the period January to December 2011 and is correct at time of printing. For latest information see www.staff ordshire.police.uk

Follow us on social media

26

Your local policing unit commander is:

Lichfi eldDistrict

Insp Jed White

You can contact him by

dialing 101or email:

lichfi elddistrictpolice@staff ordshire.pnn.police.uk

Crime down, satisfaction up

th

e knot unites

We have put maximising value for your money at the heart of everything we have done over the past 12 months. Despite the tough global and national fi nancial climate we have been innovative, creative and effi cient in how we work while maintaining vital services for the people of Staff ordshire. Furthermore, we are committed to a continuous three year council tax freeze up to 2014.

Your council tax goes towards running and maintaining a huge range of services throughout the county, for people of all ages; care for the elderly, looking after children, public health, roads, libraries, countryside, trading standards to name just a few.

27

Our achievements for you Zero tax rise and on track for savings We are on target to save £75 million over

three years, while keeping council tax frozen until 2014, helping to take the pressure off stretched household budgets. We are delivering more for less, through design, innovation and change and not through cuts, protecting vital, valued services.

2012/13 charge

Band A £685.87

Band B £800.19

Band C £914.50

Band D £1,028.81

Band E £1,257.43

Band F £1,486.06

Band G £1,714.68

Band H £2,057.62

Increasing prosperity and bringing jobs to Staffordshire

The county council has been working hard behind the scenes with partners to bring a new Jaguar Land Rover Plant to the area. This will create over 900 new jobs with further jobs in the supply chain and an improved transport network. With Amazon and Nestlé also joining the list of global brands that call Staffordshire home, our county is now seen as the place businesses locate, grow and prosper.

Plans to create the largest combined social care and health trust in the UK

Staffordshire is leading national changes to health and community care with a new service that joins up health and hospital care with community based social care. This is a significant step in joining up wider healthcare services and transforming the experience and quality of care for patients.

Showing Staffordshire Cares The new Staffordshire Cares service

is giving people practical solutions and advice for a healthier and more independent life. It’s an easier way to information and advice if you’re coping with a disability, changing health issues or simply getting that bit older. A website, face to face contact points and a dedicated phone line are helping people get the advice and support they need.

Supporting young people with the Your Staffordshire Card

Over 25,000 young people aged 11-19 can now get around the county by bus for just £1 per bus journey thanks to the innovative and national award-winning Your Staffordshire Card. While many other local authorities across the country have cut back on subsidised services, Staffordshire County Council is investing in the card to help young people get around, support their local economy and get easily to school, college or work.

28

Staff ordshire placeThe completion of the county council’s new buildings in Staff ord means staff have been moved from 17 outdated, expensive to maintain buildings into two effi cient offi ces. The move is already enabling council staff to work more eff ectively together and is re-enforcing positive new ways of working for all staff county-wide. Staff ordshire Place will save an average of £250,000 of taxpayers’ money each year.

Our plansWe know that you want more for your money, high quality services and up to date information on what your county council provides.

We will continue to be innovative in the coming year, fi nding new, better and more effi cient ways to deliver services, give you the best value for money and help ensure better outcomes for all.

Our key initiatives in 2012-13 will include:

An investment in Staff ordshire’s fostering service.

Reviewing all our contracts with outside organisations to ensure you and the county council get the best value for money.

Continuing to look to business investment opportunities which will bring great returns for the county’s economy and will generate and secure jobs.

Continued investment in Staff ordshire’s roads which keeps the county and its economy moving.

Our fresh and innovative approach will deliver more savings and effi ciencies through redesign and improvement of services, removing out-of-date processes and sharing services and buildings with other organisations.

We will also continue to improve how you access services, information, advice and support through our new customer contact centre, website and via venues throughout Staff ordshire.

Get involvedYou can let us know your views on our services by:

Joining the Staff ordshire People’s Panel

Contacting us on 0300 111 8000

Visiting us online as www.staff ordshire.gov.uk

Where do we get our money from?

29

Other Income

12%

22%

43%

23%

Find out more

General GrantCouncil tax

Dedicated Schools Grant

Our total income £1,267.3 million

Contact us: 0300 111 8000 visit www.staff ordshire.gov.uk/counciltax

write to Staff ordshire County Council, St Chad’s Place, Staff ord, ST16 2LR

Where we spend the money

The table below shows how much we plan to spend on each of our services.

2011/12£ millions

2012/13£ millions

Gross Income Net Gross Income Net

Schools* 593.7 593.7 - 593.5 593.5 -

Children’s services 101.7 27.7 74.0 101.5 28.0 73.5

Other education services 45.7 1.6 44.1 42.4 2.3 40.1

Adult social care 265.5 72.2 193.3 266.9 73.8 193.1

Environmental andregulatory services

44.1 16.0 28.1 44.5 16.2 28.3

Highways and transportation 65.6 16.9 48.7 61.7 17.0 44.7

Planning services 27.9 20.3 7.6 29.1 20.8 8.3

Cultural and related services 15.8 3.0 12.8 14.9 3.0 11.9

Other services 70.7 34.5 36.2 64.3 35.3 29.0

Capital financing 45.9 - 45.9 46.5 - 46.5

Contingency 2.0 - 2.0 2.0 - 2.0

Total spending 1,278.6 785.9 492.7 1,267.3 789.9 477.4

* Dedicated Schools Grant, which funds school budgets and associated costs, is a provisional allocation which will be adjusted once final pupil numbers are known.

How do we decide where our spending priorities are?The county council is committed to making sure Staffordshire communities are places where people are involved in decision making to help shape the delivery of public services. Over the previous twelve months the county council has undertaken a variety of consultations relating to different elements of service delivery and this customer knowledge was brought together into a single report as an evidence base to inform future policy and decision making. For further information about the consultations we undertake and opportunities to have your say about the county council and the services we provide please see the ‘Get involved’ pages on the county council website www.staffordshire.gov.uk

Other services include such areas as Property, Finance, HR, Organisational Development, ICT. It also includes a levy from the Environment Agency (£0.3m).

30

31

Non-domestic ratesNon-domestic rates, or business rates, collected by local authorities are the way that those who occupy non-domestic property contribute towards the cost of local services. Except in the City of London, where special arrangements apply, the rates are pooled by central government and redistributed to local authorities as part of the annual formula grant settlement. The money, together with revenue from council tax payers, revenue support grant provided by the Government and certain other sums, is used to pay for the services provided by your local authority and other local authorities in your area. Further information about the business rates system, including transitional and other reliefs, may be obtained at www.businesslink.gov.uk

Rateable valueApart from properties that are exempt from business rates, each non-domestic property has a rateable value which is set by the valuation officers of the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), an agency of Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs. They draw up and maintain a full list of all rateable values, available on their website at www.voa.gov.uk

The rateable value of your property is shown on the front of your non-domestic rates bill. This broadly represents the yearly rent the property could have been let for on the open market on a particular date. For the revaluation that came into effect on 1 April 2010, this date was set as 1st April 2008.

The valuation officer may alter the value if circumstances change. The ratepayer (and certain others who have an interest in the property) can appeal against the value shown in the list if they believe it is wrong. Further information about the grounds on which appeals may be made and the process for doing so can be found on the VOA website or from your local valuation office.

National non-domestic rating multiplierThe local authority works out the business rates bill by multiplying the rateable value of the property by the appropriate multiplier. There are two multipliers; the standard

Non-domestic rates explanatory notes

32 non-domestic rating multiplier and the small business non-domestic rating multiplier. The former is higher to pay for small business rate relief. Except in the City of London where special arrangements apply, the Government sets the multipliers for each financial year for the whole of England according to formulae set by legislation. Between revaluations the multipliers change each year in line with inflation and to take account of the cost of small business rate relief. In the year of revaluation the multipliers are rebased to account for overall changes to total rateable value and to ensure that the revaluation does not raise extra money for Government. The current multipliers are shown on the front of your non-domestic rates bill.

Revaluation 2010 and transitional arrangements All rateable values are reassessed every five years at a general revaluation. The current rating list is based on the 2010 revaluation. Five-yearly revaluations make sure each ratepayer pays their fair contribution and no more, by ensuring that the share of the national rates bill paid by any one ratepayer reflects changes over time in the value of their property relative to others. Revaluation does not raise extra money for Government.

For those ratepayers who would otherwise have seen significant increases in their rates liability, the Government has put in place a £2 billion transitional relief scheme to limit and phase in changes in rate bills as a result of the 2010 revaluation. To help pay

for the limits on increases in bills, there were also limits on reductions in bills. Under the transition scheme, limits continue to apply to yearly increases and decreases until the full amount is due (rateable value times the appropriate multiplier). The scheme applies only to the bill based on a property at the time of the revaluation. If there are any changes to the property after 1 April 2010, transitional arrangements will not normally apply to the part of a bill that relates to any increase in rateable value due to those changes. Changes to your bill as a result of other reasons (such as because of changes to the amount of small business rate relief ) are not covered by the transitional arrangements.

The transitional arrangements are applied automatically and are shown on the front of your non-domestic rates bill.

More information on revaluation 2010 can be found at www.voa.gov.uk

Unoccupied property ratingBusiness rates will not be payable in the first three months that a property is empty. This is extended to six months in the case of certain industrial properties. After this period rates are payable in full unless the unoccupied property rate has been reduced by the Government by order. In most cases the unoccupied property rate is zero for properties owned by charities and community amateur sports clubs. In addition, there are a number of exemptions from the unoccupied property rate. Full details on exemptions can be obtained from the local authority. If the unoccupied property rate for the financial year has been reduced by order, it will be shown on the front of your non-domestic rates bill.

Partly occupied property reliefA ratepayer is liable for the full non-domestic rate whether a property is wholly occupied or only partly occupied. Where a property is partly occupied for a short time, the local authority has discretion in certain cases to award relief in respect of the unoccupied part. Full details can be obtained from the local authority.

Small business rate reliefRatepayers who are not entitled to another mandatory relief or are liable for unoccupied property rates and occupy a property with a rateable value which does not exceed £17,999 outside London or £25,499 in London will have their bill calculated using the lower small business non-domestic rating multiplier, rather than the national non-domestic rating multiplier.

In addition, if the sole or main property is shown on the rating list with a rateable value which does not exceed £12,000, the ratepayer will receive a percentage reduction in their rates bill for this property of up to a maximum of 50% for a property with a rateable value of not more than £6,000.

This percentage reduction (relief ) is only available to ratepayers who occupy either:

(a) one property, or

(b) one main property and other additional properties providing those additional properties each have a rateable value which does not exceed £2,599.

The rateable value of the property mentioned in (a), or the aggregate rateable value of all the

properties mentioned in (b), must not exceed £17,999 outside London or £25,499 in London on each day for which relief is being sought. If the rateable value, or aggregate rateable value, increases above those levels, relief will cease from the day of the increase.

An application for small business rate relief is not required. Where a ratepayer meets the eligibility criteria and has not received the relief they should contact their local authority. Provided the ratepayer continues to satisfy the conditions for relief which apply at the relevant time as regards the property and the ratepayer, they will automatically continue to receive relief in each new valuation period.

Certain changes in circumstances will need to be notified to the local authority by a ratepayer who is in receipt of relief (other changes will be picked up by the local authority). The changes which must be notified are:

(a) the ratepayer taking up occupation of an additional property, and

(b) an increase in the rateable value of a property occupied by the ratepayer in an area other than the area of the local authority which granted the relief.

33

34 Charity and community amateur sports club (CASC) reliefCharities and registered CASCs are entitled to 80% relief where the property is occupied by the charity or the club, and is wholly or mainly used for the charitable purposes of the charity (or of that and other charities), or for the purposes of the club (or of that and other clubs).

The local authority has discretion to give further relief on the remaining bill. Full details can be obtained from the local authority.

Non-profit makingorganisation reliefThe local authority has discretion to give relief to non-profit making organisations. Full details can be obtained from the local authority.

Local discounts andhardship reliefThe local authority has discretion to give relief in specific circumstances. Full details can be obtained from the local authority.

Rate relief for businessesin rural areasCertain types of properties in a rural settlement with a population below 3,000 may be entitled to relief. The property must be the only general store, the only post office or a food shop and have a rateable value of less than £8,500, or the only public house or the only petrol station and have a rateable value of less than £12,500. The property has to be occupied. An eligible ratepayer is entitled to relief at 50% of the full charge whilst the local authority also has discretion to give further relief on the remaining bill.

In addition, the local authority can give relief on certain other occupied property in a rural settlement where the rateable value is less than £16,500.

Full details can be obtained from the local authority.

Cancellation of backdatedrates liabilitiesThe Government has through the Localism Act 2011 taken a power to allow for the cancellation of certain backdated rates bills that accrued on the 2005 rating list only. Information on the type of backdated rates liability that can be cancelled is available with business rates information letter titled Cancellation of Backdated Rates www.communities.gov.uk/localgovernment/localgovernmentfinance/businessrates/busratesinformationletters/

Rating advisersRatepayers do not have to be represented in discussions about their rateable value or their rates bill. Appeals against rateable values can be made free of charge. However, ratepayers who do wish to be represented should be aware that members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS – website www.rics.org) and the Institute of Revenues Rating and Valuation (IRRV – website www.irrv.org.uk) are qualified and are regulated by rules of professional conduct designed to protect the public from misconduct. Before you employ a rating adviser, you should check that they have the necessary knowledge and expertise, as well as appropriate indemnity insurance. Take great care and, if necessary, seek further advice before entering into any contract.

Information supplied with demand noticesInformation relating to the relevant and previous financial years in regard to the gross expenditure of the local authority is available at www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/performance. A hard copy is available on request by writing to the council or by calling 01543 308900.

35

Lichfield District Council Lichfield District Council, District Council House,Frog Lane, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 6YXwww.lichfielddc.gov.uk

General customer services (Lichfield Connects) 01543 308000enquiries@lichfielddc.gov.uk

Council tax enquiries 01543 308900 revenues@lichfielddc.gov.uk

Housing & council tax benefit 01543 308900benefits@lichfielddc.gov.uk

Benefit fraud hotline 0800 783 1030

Valuation Office AgencyListing Officer, Valuation Office Agency 03000 501 501Valuation Office website www.voa.gov.uk

FireStoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Fire and Rescue, Pirehill, Stone, ST15 0BSwww.staffordshirefire.gov.ukFire HQ 08451 22 11 55

In an Emergency Dial 999

PolicePolice Headquarters, PO Box 3167, Stafford, ST16 9JZ www.staffordshire.gov.uk/policeauthorityPolice single non emergency number 101

In an Emergency Dial 999

Staffordshire County CouncilSt Chad’s Place, Stafford, ST16 2LR www.staffordshire.gov.ukMain reception 0300 111 8000

Tell us what you think of this bookletwww.staffordshire.gov.uk/counciltaxfeedback or call 01785 276829

Handy contacts

This information can be produced on request in other formats and other languages. Call 01543 308000

36Living with someone, but claiming single occupancy discount?If so, let us knowIf you have been claiming a council tax discount for living alone, but your circumstances have changed, you must let us know.

Why?We are reviewing all the households in the county that claim the discount. We know most claims are legitimate, but some aren’t.

The review will identify households claiming where they shouldn’t.

We are making it fair to residents who claim the discount legitimately, targeting those who are committing fraud, and making sure your council tax is going straight to providing services for your families and communities.

Tell us now and we can help you with a re-payment plan forany back dated amounts that you might owe.

If you don’t tell us You may incur penalties of up to £280 You could even face a criminal prosecution You will still have to pay back any back dated amounts

Don’t let it get that far; tell us now so we can update your records.

Cancel your single person discountCall Lichfi eld District Council on 01543 308900or visit the website at revenues@lichfi elddc.gov.uk.

Find out more about the review atwww.staff ordshire.gov.uk/singlepersondiscount

The information you provide may be shared with others for the prevention or detection of fraud/crime or as required by law.

single occupancy discount?

alone, but your circumstances have

We are reviewing all the households

discount. We know most claims are

The review will identify households

We are making it fair to residents who claim the discount legitimately, targeting

Working with

Lichfi eld District

Council

on this review

claim the discount legitimately, targeting those who are committing fraud, and making sure your council tax is going straight to providing services for your

Tell us now and we can help you with a re-payment plan for

62202/12