Issue - meetings

Received a report from the Divisional Director of Corporate Finance setting out the calculation of the Council Tax Base for 2008/09 and information on powers available to the Council to reduce discounts for second homes and long term empty properties and to award local determined discounts.  Information was also provided on powers available to the Council to offer discounts for prompt payment, where bills are paid immediately in full without the need for an instalment plan.

Agreed, in order to comply with statute and assist in the calculation of the Authority’s Council Tax for 2008/09, to recommend the Assembly:

(i)  That, in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Tax Base) Regulations 1992, the amount calculated by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham as its Tax Base for the year 2008/09 shall be 51,429.5 Band ‘D’ properties;

(ii)  That the discounts for second homes and short term empty properties are reduced from the current 50% discount to a 10% discount from 2008/09 onwards;

(iii)  That the discounts for long term empty properties are reduced from the current 50% discount to a 10% discount from 2008/09 onwards; and

(iv)  That no locally determined discounts based on categories of property or occupier be awarded for 2008/09.