Issue - meetings

B Report of the Director of Finance and Support

Council is to be recommended to approve the tax base for 2010/11 at 66,896 Band D equivalent properties and associated parish tax bases within this.

Councillor Clarke addressed Cabinet and referred to the number of properties that were reported as being currently unoccupied and therefore not eligible for council tax.  He asked that powers be used to bring those properties back into residential use.

In response, Councillor Beardsworth clarified that work was going on with private sector landlords to resolve these issues.

Councillor Perkins, as relevant Portfolio Holder, presented the report to Cabinet.  He confirmed that the headlines for the report had been taken into account with regard to single person discount and the rate of non-payment.

Councillor Church commented on the 1% increase in council tax base since last year and pointed out that Northampton was continuing to grow and the funding formula from central Government was out of date.

Councillor B Hoare ratified the Cabinet’s support of the efforts in relation to empty properties and recognised the need for resources to bring them back into use.

RESOLVED

That Council approve the tax base for 2010/11 at 66,896 Band D equivalent properties and associated parish tax bases within this.