Decision Maker: Council

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: February 27, 2025

Purpose:

Content: RESOLVED: That Council:   (1)   Noted that at its meeting on 23 January 2025 the Council Tax Setting Committee confirmed the amount 50,836.30 as its Council Tax base for the year 2025/2026 in accordance with regulation 3 of the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 2012 (the Regulations).   b)    50,836.30 being the amount calculated by the Council, in accordance with Regulation 3 of the Regulations, as its Council Tax base for the year.   c)       Parish/Town Council Tax Base Parish/Town Council Tax Base Ashwell 901.70 Knebworth 2,018.70 Barkway 438.90 Lilley 178.00 Barley 338.20 Offley 616.30 Bygrave 129.40 Pirton 702.50 Caldecote and Newnham 56.70 Preston 246.10 Clothall 86.90 Radwell 58.30 Codicote 1,711.30 Reed 160.60 Graveley 175.50 Royston 6,871.60 Great Ashby 2,012.10 Rushden and Wallington 212.10 Hinxworth 162.60 St Ippolyts 948.50 Holwell 160.20 St Pauls Walden 582.10 Ickleford 898.10 Sandon 247.50 Kelshall 80.90 Therfield 267.50 Kimpton 1,062.50 Weston 446.40 Kings Walden 425.00 Wymondley 431.20           Being the amounts calculated by the Council, in accordance with Regulation 6 of the Regulations, as the amounts of its Council Tax base for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which one or more special items relate.     d)    That it be noted that at this meeting on the 27 February 2025 the Council has calculated the Council Tax requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2025/26 (excluding Parish precepts) as £13,612,944. As detailed in 2.2 (e) below the sum of special items is £1,522,848 and hence the total Council Tax requirement (including Parish precepts) is £15,135,792.   (2)   That the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for 2025/2026 in accordance with Sections 31A, 31B and 34 to 36 of the Local Government and Finance Act 1992 (the Act):-   a) £82,806,829 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2)(a) to (f) of the Act.   b) £67,671,037 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3) (a) to (d) of the Act.   c) £15,135,792 being the amount by which the aggregate at (a) above exceeds the aggregate at (b) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act, as its Council Tax requirement for the year.   d) £297.74 being the amount at (c) above divided by the amount at 2.1(a) above calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 31B(1) as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year.   e) £1,522,848 being the aggregate amount of all special items referred to in Section 34(1) of the Act.   f) £267.78   being the amount at (d) above less the result given by dividing the amount at (e) above by the amount at 2.1(a) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 34(2) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which no special item relates.   g)          Parish/Town Basic Parish Precept Total £ £ £ Ashwell 267.78 124.89 392.67 Barkway 267.78 98.28 366.06 Barley 267.78 99.24 367.02 Bygrave 267.78 71.95 339.73 Caldecote and Newnham 267.78 42.08 309.86 Clothall 267.78 21.59 289.37 Codicote 267.78 64.80 332.58 Graveley 267.78 57.94 325.72 Great Ashby 267.78 24.00 291.78 Hinxworth 267.78 68.75 336.53 Holwell 267.78 92.50 360.28 Ickleford 267.78 67.23 335.01 Kelshall 267.78 35.61 303.39 Kimpton 267.78 84.71 352.49 Kings Walden 267.78 90.75 358.53 Knebworth 267.78 95.29 363.07 Lilley 267.78 108.97 376.75 Offley 267.78 66.09 333.87 Pirton 267.78 95.61 363.39 Preston 267.78 68.10 335.88 Radwell 267.78 26.42 294.20 Reed 267.78 51.54 319.32 Royston 267.78 59.22 327.00 Rushden and Wallington 267.78 20.92 288.70 St Ippolyts 267.78 41.98 309.76 St Pauls Walden 267.78 86.79 354.57 Sandon 267.78 34.34 302.12 Therfield 267.78 37.38 305.16 Weston 267.78 51.52 319.30 Wymondley 267.78 100.53 368.31     being the amounts given by adding to the amount at 2.2(f) above the amounts of the special item or items relating to dwellings in those parts of the Council's area mentioned above divided in each case by the amount at 2.1(b) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 34(3) of the Act, as the basic amounts of its Council Tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which one or more special items relate.   h)        Valuation Bands Parish/Town A B C D E F G H £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ Ashwell 261.78 305.41 349.03 392.67 479.93 567.19 654.45 785.34 Baldock 178.52 208.27 238.03 267.78 327.29 386.79 446.30 535.56 Barkway 244.04 284.71 325.38 366.06 447.41 528.75 610.10 732.12 Barley 244.68 285.46 326.23 367.02 448.58 530.14 611.70 734.04 Bygrave 226.49 264.23 301.98 339.73 415.23 490.72 566.22 679.46 Caldecote and Newnham 206.57 241.00 275.42 309.86 378.72 447.57 516.43 619.72 Clothall 192.91 225.06 257.21 289.37 353.68 417.98 482.28 578.74 Codicote 221.72 258.67 295.62 332.58 406.49 480.39 554.30 665.16 Graveley 217.15 253.33 289.52 325.72 398.11 470.48 542.87 651.44 Great Ashby 194.52 226.94 259.35 291.78 356.62 421.46 486.30 583.56 Hexton 178.52 208.27 238.03 267.78 327.29 386.79 446.30 535.56 Hinxworth 224.35 261.74 299.13 336.53 411.32 486.10 560.88 673.06 Hitchin 178.52 208.27 238.03 267.78 327.29 386.79 446.30 535.56 Holwell 240.19 280.21 320.24 360.28 440.35 520.40 600.47 720.56 Ickleford 223.34 260.56 297.78 335.01 409.46 483.90 558.35 670.02 Kelshall 202.26 235.97 269.67 303.39 370.81 438.23 505.65 606.78 Kimpton 234.99 274.16 313.32 352.49 430.82 509.15 587.48 704.98 Kings Walden 239.02 278.85 318.69 358.53 438.21 517.87 597.55 717.06 Knebworth 242.05 282.38 322.72 363.07 443.76 524.43 605.12 726.14 Langley 178.52 208.27 238.03 267.78 327.29 386.79 446.30 535.56 Letchworth 178.52 208.27 238.03 267.78 327.29 386.79 446.30 535.56 Lilley 251.17 293.02 334.88 376.75 460.48 544.19 627.92 753.50 Nuthampstead 178.52 208.27 238.03 267.78 327.29 386.79 446.30 535.56 Offley 222.58 259.67 296.77 333.87 408.07 482.25 556.45 667.74 Pirton 242.26 282.63 323.01 363.39 444.15 524.89 605.65 726.78 Preston 223.92 261.24 298.55 335.88 410.52 485.16 559.80 671.76 Radwell 196.13 228.82 261.50 294.20 359.58 424.95 490.33 588.40 Reed 212.88 248.36 283.83 319.32 390.28 461.24 532.20 638.64 Royston 218.00 254.33 290.66 327.00 399.67 472.33 545.00 654.00 Rushden and Wallington 192.47 224.54 256.62 288.70 352.86 417.01 481.17 577.40 St Ippolyts 206.51 240.92 275.34 309.76 378.60 447.43 516.27 619.52 St Pauls Walden 236.38 275.77 315.17 354.57 433.37 512.15 590.95 709.14 Sandon 201.41 234.98 268.54 302.12 369.26 436.39 503.53 604.24 Therfield 203.44 237.34 271.25 305.16 372.98 440.78 508.60 610.32 Weston 212.87 248.34 283.82 319.30 390.26 461.21 532.17 638.60 Wymondley 245.54 286.46 327.38 368.31 450.16 532.00 613.85 736.62   being the amounts given by multiplying the amounts at 2.2(f) and 2.2(g) above by the number which, in the proportion set out in Section 5(1) of the Act, is applicable to dwellings listed in a particular valuation band divided by the number which in that proportion is applicable to dwellings listed in valuation band D, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 36(l) of the Act, as the amounts to be taken into account for the year in respect of categories of dwellings listed in different valuation bands.   (3)   Noted that for 2025/2026 Hertfordshire County Council and the Hertfordshire Police & Crime Commissioner has stated the following amounts in precepts issued to the Council, in accordance with Section 40 of the Act, for each of the categories of dwellings shown below:-               Valuation Bands   Precepting Authority A B C D E F G H     £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £   Hertfordshire County Council 1,179.91 1,376.57 1,573.22 1,769.87 2,163.17 2,556.48 2,949.78 3,539.74                       Hertfordshire Police & Crime Commissioner 176.67 206.11 235.56 265.00 323.89 382.78 441.67 530.00   (4)   That, having calculated the aggregate in each case of the amounts at 2.2(h) and 2.3 above, the Council, in accordance with Section 30(2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, hereby sets out the following provisional amounts as the amounts of Council Tax for 2025/2026 for each of the categories of dwellings shown below:-   List of parishes and tax at different bands (County, Care, Police, District and Parish)     Valuation Bands Parish/Town A B C D E F G H     £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £   Ashwell 1,618.36 1,888.09 2,157.81 2,427.54 2,966.99 3,506.45 4,045.90 4,855.08   Baldock 1,535.10 1,790.95 2,046.81 2,302.65 2,814.35 3,326.05 3,837.75 4,605.30   Barkway 1,600.62 1,867.39 2,134.16 2,400.93 2,934.47 3,468.01 4,001.55 4,801.86   Barley 1,601.26 1,868.14 2,135.01 2,401.89 2,935.64 3,469.40 4,003.15 4,803.78   Bygrave 1,583.07 1,846.91 2,110.76 2,374.60 2,902.29 3,429.98 3,957.67 4,749.20   Caldecote and Newnham 1,563.15 1,823.68 2,084.20 2,344.73 2,865.78 3,386.83 3,907.88 4,689.46   Clothall 1,549.49 1,807.74 2,065.99 2,324.24 2,840.74 3,357.24 3,873.73 4,648.48   Codicote 1,578.30 1,841.35 2,104.40 2,367.45 2,893.55 3,419.65 3,945.75 4,734.90   Graveley 1,573.73 1,836.01 2,098.30 2,360.59 2,885.17 3,409.74 3,934.32 4,721.18   Great Ashby 1,551.10 1,809.62 2,068.13 2,326.65 2,843.68 3,360.72 3,877.75 4,653.30   Hexton 1,535.10 1,790.95 2,046.81 2,302.65 2,814.35 3,326.05 3,837.75 4,605.30   Hinxworth 1,580.93 1,844.42 2,107.91 2,371.40 2,898.38 3,425.36 3,952.33 4,742.80   Hitchin 1,535.10 1,790.95 2,046.81 2,302.65 2,814.35 3,326.05 3,837.75 4,605.30   Holwell 1,596.77 1,862.89 2,129.02 2,395.15 2,927.41 3,459.66 3,991.92 4,790.30   Ickleford 1,579.92 1,843.24 2,106.56 2,369.88 2,896.52 3,423.16 3,949.80 4,739.76   Kelshall 1,558.84 1,818.65 2,078.45 2,338.26 2,857.87 3,377.49 3,897.10 4,676.52   Kimpton 1,591.57 1,856.84 2,122.10 2,387.36 2,917.88 3,448.41 3,978.93 4,774.72   Kings Walden 1,595.60 1,861.53 2,127.47 2,393.40 2,925.27 3,457.13 3,989.00 4,786.80   Knebworth 1,598.63 1,865.06 2,131.50 2,397.94 2,930.82 3,463.69 3,996.57 4,795.88   Langley 1,535.10 1,790.95 2,046.81 2,302.65 2,814.35 3,326.05 3,837.75 4,605.30   Letchworth 1,535.10 1,790.95 2,046.81 2,302.65 2,814.35 3,326.05 3,837.75 4,605.30   Lilley 1,607.75 1,875.70 2,143.66 2,411.62 2,947.54 3,483.45 4,019.37 4,823.24   Nuthampstead 1,535.10 1,790.95 2,046.81 2,302.65 2,814.35 3,326.05 3,837.75 4,605.30   Offley 1,579.16 1,842.35 2,105.55 2,368.74 2,895.13 3,421.51 3,947.90 4,737.48   Pirton 1,598.84 1,865.31 2,131.79 2,398.26 2,931.21 3,464.15 3,997.10 4,796.52   Preston 1,580.50 1,843.92 2,107.33 2,370.75 2,897.58 3,424.42 3,951.25 4,741.50   Radwell 1,552.71 1,811.50 2,070.28 2,329.07 2,846.64 3,364.21 3,881.78 4,658.14   Reed 1,569.46 1,831.04 2,092.61 2,354.19 2,877.34 3,400.50 3,923.65 4,708.38   Royston 1,574.58 1,837.01 2,099.44 2,361.87 2,886.73 3,411.59 3,936.45 4,723.74   Rushden and Wallington 1,549.05 1,807.22 2,065.40 2,323.57 2,839.92 3,356.27 3,872.62 4,647.14   St Ippolyts 1,563.09 1,823.60 2,084.12 2,344.63 2,865.66 3,386.69 3,907.72 4,689.26   St Pauls Walden 1,592.96 1,858.45 2,123.95 2,389.44 2,920.43 3,451.41 3,982.40 4,778.88   Sandon 1,557.99 1,817.66 2,077.32 2,336.99 2,856.32 3,375.65 3,894.98 4,673.98   Therfield 1,560.02 1,820.02 2,080.03 2,340.03 2,860.04 3,380.04 3,900.05 4,680.06   Weston 1,569.45 1,831.02 2,092.60 2,354.17 2,877.32 3,400.47 3,923.62 4,708.34   Wymondley 1,602.12 1,869.14 2,136.16 2,403.18 2,937.22 3,471.26 4,005.30 4,806.36       REASONS FOR DECISIONS:   (1)   The Council is required to set the Council Tax and to set the overall level of Council Tax for the following financial year, taking into account the precepts of all major and local precepting authorities.   (2)   The level of Council Tax Requirement has been considered necessary to meet the budgeting needs of the Council for 2025/26.