Decision Maker: Council

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: February 26, 2026

Purpose:

Content: RESOLVED:   (1)         That it was noted that at its meeting on 29 January 2026 the Council Tax Setting Committee confirmed the amount 51,529.0 as its Council Tax base for the year 2026/2027 in accordance with regulation 3 of the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 2012 (the Regulations).   a)     51,529.0 being the amount calculated by the Council, in accordance with Regulation 3 of the Regulations, as its Council Tax base for the year. Parish/Town Council Tax Base Parish/Town Council Tax Base Ashwell 909.00 Knebworth 2,074.50 Barkway 439.90 Lilley 183.80 Barley 341.80 Offley 621.20 Bygrave 133.90 Pirton 709.60 Caldecote and Newnham 60.60 Preston 262.10 Clothall 88.70 Radwell 56.70 Codicote 1,835.00 Reed 164.30 Graveley 180.50 Royston 7,035.80 Great Ashby 2,018.00 Rushden and Wallington 209.60 Hinxworth 163.00 St Ippolyts 961.90 Holwell 157.30 St Pauls Walden 577.80 Ickleford 953.80 Sandon 258.60 Kelshall 80.60 Therfield 278.30 Kimpton 1,089.30 Weston 447.70 Kings Walden 427.50 Wymondley 428.50           b)                       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.   c)     That it was noted that its meeting on the 26 February 2026 the Council has calculated the Council Tax requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2026/27 (excluding Parish precepts) as £14,211,183. As detailed in 2.2 (e) below the sum of special items is £1,779,755 and hence the total Council Tax requirement (including Parish precepts) is £15,990,938.                               (2)         That the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for 2026/2027 in accordance with Sections 31A, 31B and 34 to 36 of the Local Government and Finance Act 1992 (the Act):-   a) £85,997,958 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) £70,007,020 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) £15,990,938 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) £310.33 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) £1,779,755 being the aggregate amount of all special items referred to in Section 34(1) of the Act.   f) £275.79 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 275.79 137.36 413.15 Barkway 275.79 104.35 380.14 Barley 275.79 107.93 383.72 Bygrave 275.79 80.11 355.90 Caldecote and Newnham 275.79 39.81 315.60 Clothall 275.79 20.32 296.11 Codicote 275.79 62.92 338.71 Graveley 275.79 55.96 331.75 Great Ashby 275.79 24.63 300.42 Hinxworth 275.79 70.64 346.43 Holwell 275.79 97.03 372.82 Ickleford 275.79 70.77 346.56 Kelshall 275.79 49.63 325.42 Kimpton 275.79 87.58 363.37 Kings Walden 275.79 96.99 372.78 Knebworth 275.79 93.27 369.06 Lilley 275.79 118.19 393.98 Offley 275.79 72.40 348.19 Pirton 275.79 95.24 371.03 Preston 275.79 68.74 344.53 Radwell 275.79 27.16 302.95 Reed 275.79 52.41 328.20 Royston 275.79 84.92 360.71 Rushden and Wallington 275.79 21.15 296.94 St Ippolyts 275.79 46.61 322.40 St Pauls Walden 275.79 91.81 367.60 Sandon 275.79 32.87 308.66 Therfield 275.79 47.43 323.22 Weston 275.79 55.84 331.63 Wymondley 275.79 103.50 379.29   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 275.43 321.34 367.25 413.15 504.96 596.78 688.58 826.30 Baldock 183.86 214.50 245.15 275.79 337.08 398.36 459.65 551.58 Barkway 253.43 295.66 337.91 380.14 464.62 549.10 633.57 760.28 Barley 255.81 298.45 341.09 383.72 468.99 554.27 639.53 767.44 Bygrave 237.27 276.81 316.36 355.90 434.99 514.08 593.17 711.80 Caldecote and Newnham 210.40 245.46 280.54 315.60 385.74 455.87 526.00 631.20 Clothall 197.41 230.30 263.21 296.11 361.92 427.72 493.52 592.22 Codicote 225.81 263.44 301.08 338.71 413.98 489.25 564.52 677.42 Graveley 221.17 258.02 294.89 331.75 405.48 479.20 552.92 663.50 Great Ashby 200.28 233.66 267.04 300.42 367.18 433.95 500.70 600.84 Hexton 183.86 214.50 245.15 275.79 337.08 398.36 459.65 551.58 Hinxworth 230.95 269.44 307.94 346.43 423.42 500.41 577.38 692.86 Hitchin 183.86 214.50 245.15 275.79 337.08 398.36 459.65 551.58 Holwell 248.55 289.97 331.40 372.82 455.67 538.52 621.37 745.64 Ickleford 231.04 269.54 308.06 346.56 423.58 500.59 577.60 693.12 Kelshall 216.95 253.10 289.27 325.42 397.74 470.06 542.37 650.84 Kimpton 242.25 282.62 323.00 363.37 444.12 524.87 605.62 726.74 Kings Walden 248.52 289.94 331.36 372.78 455.62 538.47 621.30 745.56 Knebworth 246.04 287.04 328.06 369.06 451.08 533.09 615.10 738.12 Langley 183.86 214.50 245.15 275.79 337.08 398.36 459.65 551.58 Letchworth 183.86 214.50 245.15 275.79 337.08 398.36 459.65 551.58 Lilley 262.65 306.43 350.21 393.98 481.53 569.09 656.63 787.96 Nuthampstead 183.86 214.50 245.15 275.79 337.08 398.36 459.65 551.58 Offley 232.13 270.81 309.51 348.19 425.57 502.95 580.32 696.38 Pirton 247.35 288.58 329.81 371.03 453.48 535.94 618.38 742.06 Preston 229.69 267.96 306.25 344.53 421.10 497.66 574.22 689.06 Radwell 201.97 235.62 269.29 302.95 370.28 437.60 504.92 605.90 Reed 218.80 255.26 291.74 328.20 401.14 474.07 547.00 656.40 Royston 240.47 280.55 320.63 360.71 440.87 521.03 601.18 721.42 Rushden and Wallington 197.96 230.95 263.95 296.94 362.93 428.92 494.90 593.88 St Ippolyts 214.93 250.75 286.58 322.40 394.05 465.70 537.33 644.80 St Pauls Walden 245.07 285.91 326.76 367.60 449.29 530.98 612.67 735.20 Sandon 205.77 240.07 274.37 308.66 377.25 445.85 514.43 617.32 Therfield 215.48 251.39 287.31 323.22 395.05 466.88 538.70 646.44 Weston 221.09 257.93 294.79 331.63 405.33 479.03 552.72 663.26 Wymondley 252.86 295.00 337.15 379.29 463.58 547.87 632.15 758.58   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)         That it was noted that for 2026/2027 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 1,238.79 1,445.26 1,651.73 1,858.19 2,271.12 2,684.05 3,096.98 3,716.38                   Hertfordshire Police & Crime Commissioner 186.67 217.78 248.89 280.00 342.22 404.44 466.67 560.00   (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 2026/2027 for each of the categories of dwellings shown below:-   List of parishes and tax at different band (County, Care, Police, District and Parish)     Valuation Bands Parish/Town A B C D E F G H     £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £   Ashwell 1,700.89 1,984.38 2,267.86 2,551.34 3,118.30 3,685.27 4,252.23 5,102.68   Baldock 1,609.32 1,877.54 2,145.77 2,413.98 2,950.42 3,486.85 4,023.30 4,827.96   Barkway 1,678.89 1,958.70 2,238.52 2,518.33 3,077.96 3,637.59 4,197.22 5,036.66   Barley 1,681.27 1,961.49 2,241.70 2,521.91 3,082.33 3,642.76 4,203.18 5,043.82   Bygrave 1,662.73 1,939.85 2,216.97 2,494.09 3,048.33 3,602.57 4,156.82 4,988.18   Caldecote and Newnham 1,635.86 1,908.50 2,181.15 2,453.79 2,999.08 3,544.36 4,089.65 4,907.58   Clothall 1,622.87 1,893.34 2,163.82 2,434.30 2,975.26 3,516.21 4,057.17 4,868.60   Codicote 1,651.27 1,926.48 2,201.69 2,476.90 3,027.32 3,577.74 4,128.17 4,953.80   Graveley 1,646.63 1,921.06 2,195.50 2,469.94 3,018.82 3,567.69 4,116.57 4,939.88   Great Ashby 1,625.74 1,896.70 2,167.65 2,438.61 2,980.52 3,522.44 4,064.35 4,877.22   Hexton 1,609.32 1,877.54 2,145.77 2,413.98 2,950.42 3,486.85 4,023.30 4,827.96   Hinxworth 1,656.41 1,932.48 2,208.55 2,484.62 3,036.76 3,588.90 4,141.03 4,969.24   Hitchin 1,609.32 1,877.54 2,145.77 2,413.98 2,950.42 3,486.85 4,023.30 4,827.96   Holwell 1,674.01 1,953.01 2,232.01 2,511.01 3,069.01 3,627.01 4,185.02 5,022.02   Ickleford 1,656.50 1,932.58 2,208.67 2,484.75 3,036.92 3,589.08 4,141.25 4,969.50   Kelshall 1,642.41 1,916.14 2,189.88 2,463.61 3,011.08 3,558.55 4,106.02 4,927.22   Kimpton 1,667.71 1,945.66 2,223.61 2,501.56 3,057.46 3,613.36 4,169.27 5,003.12   Kings Walden 1,673.98 1,952.98 2,231.97 2,510.97 3,068.96 3,626.96 4,184.95 5,021.94   Knebworth 1,671.50 1,950.08 2,228.67 2,507.25 3,064.42 3,621.58 4,178.75 5,014.50   Langley 1,609.32 1,877.54 2,145.77 2,413.98 2,950.42 3,486.85 4,023.30 4,827.96   Letchworth 1,609.32 1,877.54 2,145.77 2,413.98 2,950.42 3,486.85 4,023.30 4,827.96   Lilley 1,688.11 1,969.47 2,250.82 2,532.17 3,094.87 3,657.58 4,220.28 5,064.34   Nuthampstead 1,609.32 1,877.54 2,145.77 2,413.98 2,950.42 3,486.85 4,023.30 4,827.96   Offley 1,657.59 1,933.85 2,210.12 2,486.38 3,038.91 3,591.44 4,143.97 4,972.76   Pirton 1,672.81 1,951.62 2,230.42 2,509.22 3,066.82 3,624.43 4,182.03 5,018.44   Preston 1,655.15 1,931.00 2,206.86 2,482.72 3,034.44 3,586.15 4,137.87 4,965.44   Radwell 1,627.43 1,898.66 2,169.90 2,441.14 2,983.62 3,526.09 4,068.57 4,882.28   Reed 1,644.26 1,918.30 2,192.35 2,466.39 3,014.48 3,562.56 4,110.65 4,932.78   Royston 1,665.93 1,943.59 2,221.24 2,498.90 3,054.21 3,609.52 4,164.83 4,997.80   Rushden and Wallington 1,623.42 1,893.99 2,164.56 2,435.13 2,976.27 3,517.41 4,058.55 4,870.26   St Ippolyts 1,640.39 1,913.79 2,187.19 2,460.59 3,007.39 3,554.19 4,100.98 4,921.18   St Pauls Walden 1,670.53 1,948.95 2,227.37 2,505.79 3,062.63 3,619.47 4,176.32 5,011.58   Sandon 1,631.23 1,903.11 2,174.98 2,446.85 2,990.59 3,534.34 4,078.08 4,893.70   Therfield 1,640.94 1,914.43 2,187.92 2,461.41 3,008.39 3,555.37 4,102.35 4,922.82   Weston 1,646.55 1,920.97 2,195.40 2,469.82 3,018.67 3,567.52 4,116.37 4,939.64   Wymondley 1,678.32 1,958.04 2,237.76 2,517.48 3,076.92 3,636.36 4,195.80 5,034.96     REASON FOR DECISIONS: 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.