Issue - meetings

To recommend for Council approval the 2023/24 Council Tax and Business rate bases. 

Councillor Tim Leaver moved, and Councillor Nesil Caliskan seconded, the report.

The Director of Law & Governance read out a statement on the rules relating to arrears of Council Tax. Members were asked if they had any arrears of Council Tax outstanding for two months or more and, if so, to declare the arrears and withdraw from the meeting. The Director of Law & Governance advised that according to the Council’s records there were no Members with such outstanding arrears but that the onus was on members to make the declaration if necessary.

Councillor Tim Leaver then introduced the report and asked the Council to agree the Council Tax rate as well as Business Rate Tax. The Council Tax and Business Rate tax bases must be agreed and notified to the Secretary of State and any precepting authorities (the Greater London Authority) by 31 January of each financial year.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that the Council Tax increase limit was increased from 1.99% to 2.99 % for 2023/24, with Adult Social Care precept limit increased from, 1% to 2%. This gives local authorities the option of increasing Council Tax by a maximum of 4.99% in 2023/24, beyond which a local referendum would be required, and this is the rate that Enfield Council will be setting for the period 2023/24.

The Opposition expressed their concerns that despite the Government giving the Council a 20% grant increase and the Council’s reserves being higher than 5 years ago; there has been an increase in Council Tax, Business Rates tax, charge for green waste bins, the GLA precept and ULEZ which will impact the poorest residents in the borough. The proposal will see support cut from 6,500 low income working households where the majority are situated in the East of the borough. This undermines the Government’s effort to support residents with the introduction of schemes such as the Energy support cap which showed savings of up to £900 for households. There were 15 different grants that businesses could apply for during Covid, and the Government is investing £500m to help small businesses against proposed increases.

Members acknowledged that the Council would be setting a Council Tax rate which ensured that it could continue to provide services that are fair to residents whilst protecting the most vulnerable communities. The Council is offering extra support and signposting for struggling residents as well as extended payment arrangements so smaller payments can be made over a longer period.

Following the debate, Councillor Sabri Ozaydin moved, and Councillor Alessandro Georgiou seconded, a procedural motion under paragraph 13.20 (v) of the Council’s Procedure Rules that the question now be put.

The Council Tax Base 2023/24 as set out in the report was AGREED with the following votes:

For (31)

Abstentions (23)

The non-domestic rating income estimate for 2023/24 as set out in the report was AGREED.