To set out, and seek confirmation of, the final Council Tax amounts for 2019/20 following notification of the precepts issued for 2019/20 by Essex County Council and the Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.

Before the commencement of this item the Chairman read out the following:-

“Members are reminded of Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, which provides that any Member, who is in arrears by at least 2 months with their Council Tax payments, cannot vote on matters concerning either the level of, or administration of, Council Tax.  It is important to note that this also covers Council Tax liabilities outside of the District and property which may not be your main residence. If present at the meeting, a Member to whom this provision applies must disclose the fact and may speak on the item, but cannot vote.  Non-compliance with this section is a criminal offence.  Therefore, should this provision apply to any Member, this should be disclosed.”

The Committee’s confirmation was sought in respect of the final Council Tax amounts for 2019/20 including the precepts issued for 2019/20 by Essex County Council and the Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.

Members were informed that, once the precepts were received from the major precepting authorities, the Human Resources and Council Tax Committee had the delegated responsibility to agree the total Council Tax for 2019/20. The total Council Tax for the year was made up of the District and Parish / Town Council amounts approved by this Council and the corresponding amounts agreed by the major precepting authorities. Legislation required this formal confirmation even though the process was dictated by legislative formulae and there was no actual judgement or choice to be made.

The Committee was aware that the District and Parish/Town Council precepts for 2019/20 had been approved at the meeting of the Council held on 5 February 2019 and were set out in Appendix B to the report. Since that date the precepts from the major precepting authorities for 2019/20 had been received.  The table set out below showed the precepts issued for 2019/20 for Essex County Council, Essex Police services and Essex Fire services:-

It was reported that when added to the amounts relating to the District and Parish / Town Council Services, as approved by Council on 5 February 2019, the average Band D Tax totalled £1,742.98for 2019/20. Appendix A to the reportset out the full precept details and Appendix Cset out for confirmation the 2019/20 Council Tax amounts including the precepts from the major precepting authorities by property band for the unparished and parished areas of the District.

It was moved by Councillor Ferguson, seconded by Councillor S A Honeywood and unanimously:-

RESOLVED that -

(a)    the precepts issued by Essex County Council, Essex Police and Essex Fire for 2018/19, as set out in Appendix A to the report, be noted; and

(b)     the amounts of Council Tax for 2019/20 for each of the categories of dwellings, as shown in Appendix C to the report, be confirmed.