Agenda item

Council is asked to approve the 2024/25 council tax and business rate bases.

SENT TO FOLLOW     

The Mayor acknowledged that Councillors had received written advice from the Monitoring Officer relating to section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 prior to the meeting and invited Councillors to declare if any were in arrears of Council Tax which had been outstanding for more than two months. There were no declarations.

The Mayor also acknowledged that Councillors had received updates to paragraph 15 and Appendix A of the report.

Cllr Tim Leaver moved, and Cllr Ergin Erbil seconded, the report.

Cllr Leaver introduced the report, which recommended the 2024/25 Council Tax and Business Rate bases. These must be agreed and notified to the Secretary of State and the Greater London Authority by the 31^st January.

Last year, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that the Council Tax increase limit was increased from 1.99% to 2.99%, with Adult Social Care precept limit increased from 1% to 2%. This had not changed and gave local authorities the option of increasing Council Tax by a maximum of 4.99%, and this is the rate that Enfield Council would be setting for the period 2024/25. The proposed schedule of discounts and premiums were set out in the report. Proposed changes to the Council Tax Support Scheme were currently subject to consultation and would be submitted to the next meeting of Council for approval. The report also set out information in relation to the 2024/25 Business Rate base and the transitional relief scheme.

The Opposition expressed their concerns that despite the business rates retention giving the Council 30% of business rate income, debt maintenance took up a lot of funds. There were proposed above-inflation increases in fees and charges, and cuts to some services. Pledges regarding Council Tax Support had been broken: the proposed changes would impact the worst-off residents in the borough. The Council Tax increase would come at time when residents were facing increased costs of living.

Members stated that Enfield Council had one of the strongest schemes for Council Tax Support in London, and a significant percentage of residents received a discount.

Following the debate, Cllr Sabri Ozaydin moved, and Cllr Ergin Erbil seconded, a procedural motion under paragraph 13.20 (v) of the Council’s Procedure Rules that the question now be put, which was AGREED.

Council was asked to

I. Agree in principle and in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of the Tax Base) (England) Regulations 2012, that the amount calculated by the London Borough of Enfield as its Council Tax Base for 2024/25 shall be 97,786 Band D equivalents.

II. Agree in principle the non-domestic rating income estimate for 2024/25, excluding collection fund adjustments, of £127,764,130.

III. Approve, in accordance with the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023, the revised discretionary power to levy a Council Tax premium of 100% in relation to dwellings which have been unoccupied and substantially unfurnished for more than one year (but less than five years).

IV. Delegate authority to the Executive Director, Resources, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Procurement, to adjust and finalise the figures agreed in principle above in light of the feedback to the consultation on the proposed changes to the Council Tax Support Scheme which is currently underway.

The recommendations were put to the vote and AGREED.