Decision

Having considered an open officer report, the Mayor MOVED, Cllr Krupski SECONDED and it was RESOLVED:

1. note the Council Tax Base calculation for 2024/25, as set out in the annual Council Tax Base government return, attached at Appendix A;
2. recommend Council agree a Council Tax Base of 90,414.0 Band D equivalent properties for 2024/25;
3. recommend Council agree a budgeted Council Tax collection rate of 95.0%;
4. recommend Council agree no changes be made to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS) for 2024/25, that eligible claimants make a minimum contribution of 25% towards their council tax;
5. recommend Council approve the continuation of the discretionary Council Tax discount of 100% for care leavers up to the age of 25, as set out in section five of this report;
6. recommend Council agree that the existing policy of a 0% discount for second homes for 2020/21 be continued for 2024/25, as set out in section five of this report;
7. recommend Council agree that the existing policy of a 0% discount for empty homes Class A (an empty property undergoing structural alteration or major repair to make it habitable) be continued, as set out in section five of this report;
8. recommend Council agree that the existing policy of a 0% discount applied immediately for empty homes – Class C (a substantially empty and unfurnished property) be continued, as set out in section five of this report;
9. recommend Council agree that the existing Long Term Empty Property homes premium of: 100% for properties empty between 2 and 5 years, 200% for those empty for over five years, and 300% for properties that remain empty for 10 years or more continues, as set out in section five of this report;
10. recommend Council agree the continuation of the existing policy of a 25% ‘sanctuary’ discount to ensure residents eligible for a single person discount are not financially worse off as a result of housing a refugee, as set out in section five of this report;
11. recommend Council agree the continuation of the discretionary War Disablement Pensions and War Widow Pensions scheme discount as set out in section five of this report;
12. note the proposed 2024/25 National Non Domestic Rate (NNDR) estimated net yield of £58m, based on current information available.
13. recommend Council agree to delegate the approval of the final 2024/25 NNDR1 form to the Acting Executive Director for Corporate Resources for submission by the deadline of 31 January 2024.