Council Tax Leaflet 2013-14 - SDDC - South Derbyshire District ...

South Derbyshire
Council Tax Guide
2013-2014
South Derbyshire
Changing for the better
Swadlincote Farmers’ and Producers’ Market, held on the first Thursday of each month on The Delph town square

Contents
1 ............... lntroduction, contents and major changes to council tax bills
2 .............. Help towards paying, making a claim, paying on time and making an appeal
3 ............... Discounts, reliefs and exemptions
4 ...............Council tax levels by parish and band, how much is spent on our services
5 ............... Band D comparison table and how services are paid for
How much other organisations receive:
6 ............... Environment Agency
6 ............... Derbyshire Fire Authority
7 ............... Derbyshire Police Authority
lntroduction
As a resident in the district you can be sure that the District Council is making every penny count in
its commitment to making South Derbyshire a better place to live, work and visit.
This document shows how South Derbyshire District Council is investing in services for the benefit of
local residents.
Our work is based on continuous improvement as we listen to local people.
If you would like to be involved in making South Derbyshire even better, please come and take part
in the meetings of the Safer Neighbourhood and Area Forums.
South Derbyshire District Council collects your council tax, which helps to pay for services from the
District Council, Parish Councils, Derbyshire County Council, Derbyshire Police, Derbyshire Fire
Authority and the Environment Agency.
This Council Tax Guide, part of which has to be published by law, reports back on how your money
is being used to improve life in the towns and villages of South Derbyshire.
Frank McArdle, Chief Executive
South Derbyshire District Council
1
lMPORTANT
Help with Council Tax Bills
!Major Changes from 1 April 2013
A recent change in legislation means that the national Council Tax Benefit scheme ceases on 1
April 2013. The local South Derbyshire District Council Tax Reduction Scheme replaces it.
This is a Scheme set by the Council following an extensive consultation exercise that ran from
August 2012 to November 2012 involving individuals, welfare agencies and community groups.
The local scheme reflects the impact of reduced government funding for benefits as part of the
Welfare Reform Agenda. This reduction meant that the Council had to make some difficult
decisions about the distribution of financial help towards the payment of Council Tax, in the
District.
The local scheme largely follows the way in which Council Tax Benefit was previously
administered. Support is however now shown as a discount on the Council Tax bill, not benefit
and for people of working age there are some major changes that will affect the amount of help
available from 1 April 2013.
For working age claimants getting 100% benefit under the old scheme, the support is now limited
to a maximum of 91.5% under the new scheme. For all other working age claimants the amount
of support is reduced by 10% from the eligible baseline discount calculated. Examples of the effect
of these changes is set out in the table below.
Working Age Old Benefit Scheme
Example 1 Cases getting 100% help
Working Age New Reduction Scheme
Council Tax (before benefit) £1,400.00 Council Tax (before discount)
£1,400.00
Current Benefit 100% -£1,400.00 Revised support Max. 91.5% discount -£1,281.00
Council Tax to pay £0.00 Council Tax to pay £119.00
Example 2 Other cases getting less than 100% help
Council Tax £1,400.00 Council Tax £1,400.00
Current Benefit -£1,200.00 Baseline discount -£1,200.00
10% reduction from baseline discount +£ 120.00
Revised discount -£1,080.00
Council Tax to pay £200.00 Council Tax to pay £320.00

Pensioner claimants are not affected by the changes to the legislation. Under the Local Scheme
the Council decided to give similar protection to war pensioners and disabled claimants.
People currently receiving Council Tax Benefit have been transferred automatically to the new
scheme (there is no need to make a fresh application). The Council Tax Bill shows the actual
amount of Council Tax payable from April 2013. Please contact our Customer Services Team as
soon as possible if you think you will have any difficulty in making payment as set out in the bill.
Alternatively independent help and advice is available from a number of organisations such as
the Citizens Advice Bureau, Money Advice and Derbyshire Housing Aid.
Could you be entitled to receive help towards the cost of
your rent or council tax?
Each year in South Derbyshire, we help around 7,000 residents with the cost of their rent or
council tax. You may be employed, looking for work, unable to work because of illness, a single
occupant, be a carer for others or of pensionable age. We look at your liability to pay rent or
council tax, your income and savings and who lives in your household.
Don’t forget, even if we can only allow a very small amount of support, such as £1 a week, this
could still mean £52 a year off your council tax bill. lt all adds up. The capital limit for receiving
Housing Benefit and Council Tax reduction is £16,000 unless you receive the guaranteed
element of pension credit. lf your savings exceed £16,000 we will not be able to award you
Housing Benefit or help with your Council Tax.
Making a claim could not be easier
To request a claim form email customer.services@south-derbys.gov.uk or phone us on 01283
595795. We will register your intention to claim immediately and post out a claim form to you.
Paying your Council Tax on time
• lf you don’t pay your monthly instalment on time we will send you a reminder.
• lf you don’t then pay the outstanding amount within seven days of receiving the reminder,
your instalment arrangement will be cancelled and the full outstanding amount will become
due.
• lf you still do not pay, we will issue a Magistrates Court summons and add £70 to your bill.
Court proceedings will result in a liability order being issued against you which
means that we can take further action to collect the amount owed, for example
bailiffs, attachment of earnings or bankruptcy. This may mean that we add substantial
additional costs to your account.
Help with paying your council tax
Contact our debt recovery section if you think you may have a problem meeting your
next payment. The sooner you call, the more help we can provide. Do not leave it too
!late. Phone 01283 595795
2
FASTRACK
The faster, easier way to claim Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction is to
complete an application form and provide supporting evidence. Your claim will be
processed within three working days. Help us to help you. Phone 01283 595795
Appeals against your council tax charge
Appeals relating to either the liable person, or entitlement to council tax discounts, reliefs and
exemptions should be made in writing to the:
Shared Services Manager,
South Derbyshire District Council,
Civic Offices, Civic Way,
Swadlincote, Derbyshire, DE11 0AH.
lf you are still not satisfied with their decision you can make an appeal directly to the Valuation
Tribunal, an independent body who will review the case based on the facts and within the
legislation.
Appealing against your valuation band
You only have grounds to appeal your valuation band in the following circumstances:
• a house has been converted into flats
• any part of the property has been demolished
• the property is worth less because it has been adapted to make it suitable for a resident with a
physical disability
• the physical state of the local area changes and this affects the value of the property
• the balance between domestic and business use changes
• the Listing Officer has altered the list without first making a proposal to the taxpayer
• within six months of becoming the taxpayer at a property for the first time (unless the same appeal
has already been considered by a Valuation Tribunal).
Appeals against valuation bands are made to:
Andrew Corkish MRlCS MCMl,
Listing Officer,
Council Tax East,
Valuation Office Agency,
Ground Floor,
Ferrers House,
Castle Meadow Road,
Nottingham,
NG2 1AB
Online www.voa.gov.uk
E-mail cteast@voa.gsi.gov.uk
Phone 03000 501 501
Making an appeal does not
allow you to withhold
payment.
lf an appeal is successful and you
have overpaid you will be entitled
!to a refund.

Discounts, reliefs and exemptions
Discounts
Single resident
Council tax is based on two or more adults living in a property. lf there is only one adult living in the property
we can grant a 25% discount.
Disregarded persons
There are some circumstances where adults living in the property do not count when determining a discount
- these are referred to as ‘disregarded persons’.
• lf all but one occupier is classed as ‘disregarded persons’ a 25% discount is granted.
• lf all occupiers are classed as ‘disregarded persons’ a 50% discount is granted.
People classed as disregarded persons are:
• students, student nurses, apprentices or youth training trainees
• those under 20 who are still at school or who have just left school
• those who still have child benefit paid for them
• those with severe mental impairment
• carers
• people in prison or held somewhere else by the authorities
• people living in hospital
• hospital or care home residents
• members of a religious community
• homeless hostel or night shelter residents
• members, and the dependants of, lnternational Headquarters, specific defence organisations, visiting
forces
• those with diplomatic immunity or privileges
• non-British spouses or dependants of students who are prevented by the terms of their leave from
entering or remaining in the UK or from working or claiming benefit
• foreign language assistants
Reliefs
Disabled
Your council tax may be reduced if a permanently disabled person lives with you. The eligible criteria is:
• the disabilty must be permanent and substantial
• a room, other than a bathroom, kitchen or lavatory is in predominant use by the person and is required
to meet their needs, or a second bathroom or kitchen is required to meet their needs
• the property has sufficient floor space to accommodate the use of their wheelchair
Empty property
A property will have 100% relief from the first time it became unoccupied and substantially unfurnished. This
will last for a period of 3 months after which a full charge becomes payable. This relief does not commence
again if the ownership of the property changes within this period or if the property is occupied for less than
6 weeks. If the property remains empty for 2 years or more a 50% premium becomes payable on top of the
full charge.
Uninhabitable and unfurnished property
A property which requires or is undergoing major repair work or undergoing structural alteration will get a
relief of 100% for a period of 12 months only. Please note general refurbishment, fitting of new kitchens or
bathrooms or no connection to services does not mean a property as uninhabitable for council tax
purposes.
3
Exemptions
The exemptions listed below are subject to qualifying criteria, we may ask you to provide documentary
evidence to support this. Some exemptions are only awarded for a specific period of time. We review
exemptions at least once each year and we may ask you to provide information that helps us to do this.
Unoccupied property
lf a property is left unfurnished no discount is granted after any other applicable exemption. If a property
remains furnished e.g. furnished lets, second homes there is 10% discount applicable. The only exception to
this is tied accommodation, which is provided for work purposes, for example, accommodation over a public
house. The following types of domestic property are exempt from payment of council tax.
B
D
E
F
G
H
J
K
L
Q
R
T
Owned by a charity (exemption allowed for up to six months only).
Left empty by someone who has gone to prison.
Left empty by someone who has moved to receive personal care in a hospital or a home, or
elsewhere.
Subject to probate or letters of administration being granted, (exemption continues for up to six
months after this has been granted).
Empty because occupation is forbidden by law.
Awaiting occupation by a minister of religion.
Left empty by someone who has moved out to provide personal care to another person.
In the ownership of a student and last occupied by that student.
Has been repossessed.
Responsibility of a bankrupt’s trustee.
Sites for an individual caravan or mobile home, or a mooring.
Difficult to let because the property is linked to, or in the grounds of, another property and may
not be let separately from that other property without breaching planning permission. The liable
person must live in the other property to qualify.
Occupied property
Some exemptions apply where a property is occupied by specified people. These apply in the following
circumstances.
M/N
O
P
S
U
V
W
Occupied entirely by students.
Forces barracks and married quarters. Their occupants will contribute to the cost of local services
through a special arrangement.
At least one liable person is a member of visiting forces.
All the residents are less than 18 years of age.
All the residents are severely mentally impaired.
At least one liable person is a foreign diplomat.
Annexed to a family home and occupied by that family’s elderly or disabled relatives.
Failure to tell us you no longer qualify for a discount, relief or
exemption or to making a false statement in order to claim any
reduction in Council Tax may result in a financial penalty. Changes
must be reported within 21 days.

Table of council tax levels for properties in South Derbyshire by band and by parish
The Council at its meeting on 4 March 2013 set the council tax as shown below.
Property banding
Aston-on-Trent
Barrow-on-Trent
Bretby
Burnaston
Castle Gresley
Church Broughton
Coton-in-the-Elms
Dalbury Lees
Egginton
Elvaston
Etwall
Findern
Foston and Scropton
Hartshorne
Hatton
Hilton
Linton
Melbourne
Netherseal
Newton Solney
Overseal
Repton
Rosliston
Shardlow and Great Wilne
Smisby
Stenson Fields
Ticknall
Walton-on-Trent
Weston-on-Trent
Willington
Woodville
All other parts
of South Derbyshire
A B C D E F G H
£0 to £40,001 £52,001 £68,001 £88,001 £120,001 £160,001 £320,001
£40,000 to £52,000 to £68,000 to £88,000 to £120,000 to £160,000 to £320,000 or above
1,002.36
999.50
980.37
986.78
1,000.32
988.93
991.54
987.50
998.23
983.96
999.26
993.78
998.91
979.58
999.00
1,008.41
1,005.83
985.81
994.12
985.14
996.49
984.01
989.89
999.59
994.75
977.92
999.22
987.08
993.04
1,016.97
992.49
974.40
1,169.41
1,166.08
1,143.76
1,151.24
1,167.03
1,153.75
1,156.80
1,152.08
1,164.60
1,147.94
1,165.80
1,159.41
1,165.39
1,142.84
1,165.49
1,176.47
1,173.46
1,150.11
1,159.80
1,149.33
1,162.57
1,148.01
1,154.87
1,166.18
1,160.54
1,140.90
1,165.76
1,151.58
1,158.54
1,186.46
1,157.90
1,136.79
1,336.48
1,332.67
1,307.16
1,315.71
1,333.76
1,318.57
1,322.06
1,316.67
1,330.97
1,311.94
1,332.35
1,325.04
1,331.88
1,306.11
1,332.00
1,344.55
1,341.11
1,314.41
1,325.49
1,313.52
1,328.65
1,312.01
1,319.85
1,332.79
1,326.33
1,303.89
1,332.30
1,316.10
1,324.05
1,355.96
1,323.32
1,299.20
1,503.53
1,499.25
1,470.55
1,480.17
1,500.47
1,483.39
1,487.31
1,481.25
1,497.34
1,475.93
1,498.89
1,490.67
1,498.36
1,469.37
1,498.49
1,512.61
1,508.74
1,478.71
1,491.17
1,477.71
1,494.73
1,476.01
1,484.83
1,499.38
1,492.12
1,466.87
1,498.83
1,480.61
1,489.55
1,525.45
1,488.73
1,461.59
1,837.65
1,832.42
1,797.34
1,809.10
1,833.91
1,813.03
1,817.82
1,810.42
1,830.08
1,803.92
1,831.98
1,821.93
1,831.33
1,795.90
1,831.49
1,848.75
1,844.02
1,807.31
1,822.54
1,806.09
1,826.89
1,804.01
1,814.79
1,832.58
1,823.70
1,792.84
1,831.90
1,809.64
1,820.56
1,864.44
1,819.56
1,786.39
4
2,171.76
2,165.58
2,124.12
2,138.02
2,167.34
2,142.67
2,148.33
2,139.58
2,162.82
2,131.89
2,165.06
2,153.18
2,164.29
2,122.42
2,164.48
2,184.87
2,179.28
2,135.91
2,153.90
2,134.46
2,159.05
2,132.01
2,144.75
2,165.76
2,155.28
2,118.80
2,164.97
2,138.65
2,151.56
2,203.42
2,150.38
2,111.18
2,505.89
2,498.75
2,450.92
2,466.95
2,500.79
2,472.32
2,478.85
2,468.75
2,495.57
2,459.89
2,498.15
2,484.45
2,497.27
2,448.95
2,497.49
2,521.02
2,514.57
2,464.52
2,485.29
2,462.85
2,491.22
2,460.02
2,474.72
2,498.97
2,486.87
2,444.79
2,498.05
2,467.69
2,482.59
2,542.42
2,481.22
2,435.99
3,007.06
2,998.50
2,941.10
2,960.34
3,000.94
2,966.78
2,974.62
2,962.50
2,994.68
2,951.86
2,997.78
2,981.34
2,996.72
2,938.74
2,996.98
3,025.22
3,017.48
2,957.42
2,982.34
2,955.42
2,989.46
2,952.02
2,969.66
2,998.76
2,984.24
2,933.74
2,997.66
2,961.22
2,979.10
3,050.90
2,977.46
2,923.18
How much is spent on South
Derbyshire District Council
Services
Environmental
Health
£1,521.22
13%
Environmental
Health
£1,625.60
14%
Waste
Collection
& Recycling
£3,611.45
31%
Local Planning
£1,233.97
11%
Local Planning
£1,095.92
10%
Management/
Central Services
£2,408.30
21%
Parks
£979.79
9%
Budget
2012/2013
figures in £000
Total=£11,444
Leisure Centres
£1,057.97
9%
Budget
2013/2014
figures in £000
Parks
£994.91
9%
Total=£11,392
Leisure Centres
£902.86
8%
Community Support
£792.54
7%
Management/
Central Services
£2,540.21
22%
Community
Support
£769.08
7%
Waste
Collection
& Recycling
£3,302.35
29%
The authority’s share of council tax will remain at £150.25
a year for those in a Band D property, one of the lowest in the
area. This accounts for just over 10% of the total council tax bill.

By proportion of Band D
The bar below shows what proportion of the Band D charge other bands pay.
A B C D E F G H
6/9 7/9 8/9 9/9 11/9 13/9 15/9 18/9
Listed by South Derbyshire parish
Parish 2013-2014 Parish addition Band D Total
precept Band D 2013-2014
£ £ £
Aston-on-Trent
28,060 41.94
1,503.53
Barrow-on-Trent
8,624 37.66
1,499.25
Bretby
3,600
8.96
1,470.55
Burnaston
12,465 18.58
1,480.17
Castle Gresley
18,389 38.88
1,500.47
Church Broughton
5,080 21.80
1,483.39
Coton-in-the-Elms
6,482 25.72
1,487.31
Dalbury Lees
2,300 19.66
1,481.25
Egginton
9,260 35.75
1,497.34
Elvaston
10,080 14.34
1,475.93
Etwall
36,140 37.30
1,498.89
Findern
18,000 29.08
1,490.67
Foston & Scropton
8,567 36.77
1,498.36
Hartshorne
7,800
7.78
1,469.37
Hatton
30,000 36.90
1,498.49
Hilton
130,000 51.02
1,512.61
Linton
29,800 47.15
1,508.74
Melbourne
30,180
17.12
1,478.71
Netherseal
9,200 29.58
1,491.17
Newton Solney
4,400
16.12
1,477.71
Overseal
25,550 33.14
1,494.73
Repton
14,190 14.42
1,476.01
Rosliston
5,950 23.24
1,484.83
Shardlow & Great Wilne
15,269 37.79
1,499.38
Smisby
3,694 30.53
1,492.12
Stenson Fields
5,800
5.28
1,466.87
Ticknall
10,800 37.24
1,498.83
Walton-on-Trent
5,630 19.02
1,480.61
Weston-on-Trent
13,000 27.96
1,489.55
Willington
54,412 63.86
1,525.45
Woodville
40,500 27.14
1,488.73
All other parts of South Derbyshire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,461.59
5
How South Derbyshire District Council services are paid for
Net Budget and Council Tax Requirement Budget 2012/2013
£s
Budget 2013/2014
£s
Net Expenditure - South Derbyshire District Council 11,444,333 11,392,184
Add: Parish Precepts 573,929 603,222
Sub - Total 12,018,262 11,995,406
General Government Grant (5,203,475) (4,818,417)
Specific Grant and New Homes Bonus (1,210,592) (2,009,013)
Surplus on Collection Fund (20,000) 0
Drawdown of Specific Reserves (43,350) (44,217)
Drawdown of General Reserves (129,767) (109,347)
Council Tax Requirement 5,411,078 5,014,412
Debt outstanding
£s
As at 31st
March 2011
As at 31st
March 2012
Temporary Loans 5,000,000 0
Long Term Debt 1,000,000 0
Transferred Debt 276,000 0
Parish Council 0 0
Deposits 184,000 52,000
Total Debt 6,460,000 52,000
Less: Short-term -3,278,000 -3,000,000
deposits
Net Debt 3,182,000 -2,948,000
Staff employed
ln 2013/14 the budgeted number of
employees is 287. This compares with 291
for 2012/13.
Change in Council Tax
Requirement (CTR)
Requirement 2012/2013 (as above) 5,411,078
Requirement 2013/2014 (as above) 5,014,412
Reduction in Requirement -396,666
Represented By £
One off items 171,000
Contract inflation 38,655
Cost pressures 176,578
Reductions in income 97,116
lncrease in Housing Benefits 42,630
Decrease in National Insurance 100,923
Efficiency/budget savings -377,783
Reduction in Government Grant -413,363
Overall reduction in use of Reserves -59,889
lncrease in Requirement - SDDC -425,979
lncrease in Parish Precepts 29,293
Overall lncrease in CTR -396,686
£

Midlands region
www.environment-agency.gov.uk
• Customer Service Line 0370 850 6506
• lncident hotline 0800 80 70 60
• Floodline 0845 988 1188
6
Derbyshire Fire Authority Making Derbyshire Safer
Our Budget and Your Council Tax for 2013 through 2014 At the Fire
& Rescue Authority meeting on 21st February 2013 Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Authority approved
the level of Council Tax for the year 1st April 2013 to 31st March 2014. The Authority agreed to set a
0% increase in Council Tax with a budget of £39.1m for 2013 through 2014.
The Council Tax (Demand Notices) (England) Regulations 2011
The Environment Agency is a levying body for its Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management
Functions under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 and the Environment Agency (Levies)
(England and Wales) Regulations 2011.
The Environment Agency has powers in respect of flood and coastal erosion risk management for
2,369 kilometers of main river and along tidal and sea defences, in the area of the Trent
Regional Flood and Coastal Committee. Money is spent on the construction of new flood defence
schemes, the maintenance of the river system and existing flood defences together with the
operation of a flood warning system and management of the risk of coastal erosion.
The financial details are:-
Severn Trent Regional
Flood Defence Committee
2012/2013 2013/2014
‘000s ‘000s
Gross expenditure £27,196 £34,320
Levies raised £1,936 £1,936
Total Council Tax Base 1,887 1,628
The majority of funding for flood defence comes directly from the Department for the
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). However, under the new Partnership Funding rule not
all schemes will attract full central funding. To provide ‘matching’ funding the Agency may seek
funding from County and Metropolitan Councils, Unitary Authorities and London Boroughs in the
form of a Local Levy. The Local Levy is shared on the basis of Band D Equivalents between all
contributing bodies within the Committee Area.
Changes in the Gross Budgeted expenditure between the years reflects the impact
of the Government Spending Review and national prioritisation of capital projects.
The total Local Levy raised has remained the same in 2013/14 as 2012/13 at
£1,936,000.
The amount we will take for each Council Tax band for 2013 through 2014
Council Tax Band Valuation Council Tax 2013 through 2014
A £0 - £40,000 £44.78
B £40,000 - £52,000 £52.24
C £52,001 - £68,000 £59.71
D £68,001 - £88,000 £67.17
E £88,001 - £120,000 £82.10
F £120,001 - £160,000 £97.02
G £160,001 - £320,000 £111.95
H £320,001 or above £134.34
Our Budget Requirement and Funding
The Fire & Rescue Authority's Budget Requirement in 2013 through 2014 will decrease by £2.4m
compared to 2012 through 2013 in line with funding reductions imposed by central government.
Budget Requirement Comparison for 2012 through 2013 and 2013 through 2014
Expense Details £000, 000’s 2012/2013 £000, 000’s 2013/2014
Gross expenditure for services 39.7 39.3
Contribution to reserves 2.4 0.4
lncome (To be subtracted from sum) 0.6 0.6
Total Budget Requirement 41.5 39.1
Funding Comparison for 2012 through 2013 and 2013 through 2014
Funding Details £000, 000’s 2012/2013 £000, 000’s 2013/2014
Revenue Support Grant and National
Non-Domestic Rates 17.9 18.9
Council Tax Freeze Grant 1.2 0.8
Collection Fund Surplus 0.1 0.0
Council Tax 22.3 19.4
Total Funding 41.5 39.1

Services provided by and on behalf of the
Police and Crime Commissioner for Derbyshire
2013/14 precept
2012/13 2013/14
£M £M
Gross Expenditure for services 170.170 171.443
Contribution to Reserves 2.245 -
Gross Expenditure 172.415 171.443
less: Specific Grants -6.415 3.716
Contribution from Reserves -0.260 - 0.516
Net Expenditure 165.740 167.211
less: Grants
National Non-Domestic Rates -42.335 -
Revenue Support Grant -0.847 -41.185
Police Grant -65.039 -68.940
Council Tax Freeze Grant -2.986 -1.354
Council Tax Benefit Grant -7.323
Collection Fund Surplus -0.092 -0.031
Council Tax Requirement (Precept)* 54.441 48.378
Effect of Gross Expenditure on the Level of Precept
Gross Expenditure in 2013/14 will reduce by £0.972m compared to 2012/13. This reduction, at
0.56%, is less than the reduction in Government support of 1.6% imposed as part of the ongoing
national austerity measures. Protecting the level of policing services for Derby and Derbyshire has
required a increase in the Council Tax levied on local taxpayers of 1.96%. This is the first increase
in 3 years.
* The most significant factor affecting the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Precept results from a
change in the way that council tax support to individuals (via Council Tax Benefit) is administered.
This change has been introduced by the Government from 1 April 2013 as part of its localisation
agenda. Previously, policing received its share of council Benefit funding as part of the Precept.
From April 2013, the level of Council Tax Benefit (other than protected benefits for Pensioners) is
decided by the billing authority. Entitlement to support now reduces the local taxbase and thus
the funding produced via the Precept. Government pays a grant directly to each authority which
is intended to match 90% of the loss of precept funding. The remaining 10% is a contribution to
the government’s deficit-reduction strategy.
7
Alan Charles - the new Police and Crime Commissioner for Derbyshire
Following the elections in England and Wales in November 2012, Alan Charles has been elected
as Derbyshire’s first Police and Crime Commissioner. Alongside his budget, Alan has issued his
first Police and Crime Plan. which outlines his policing objectives to 2017. Go online at:
www.derbyshire-pcc.gov.uk/Public-Information/Police-and-Crime-Plan.aspx for the Police and
Crime Plan
The Plan shares his vision for local policing over the next four years and explains how he aims to
deliver his election pledges. It also acts as a benchmark by which you will be able to measure
success and judge the progress taking place in the county.
The Commissioner’s main duties include:
• Holding the Chief Constable to account
• Setting and updating a Police and Crime Plan
• Setting the Force budget and council tax precept
• Regularly talking to our communities
• Appointing – and where necessary dismissing – the Chief Constable
• Commissioning the services of partner agencies to deliver a joined-up approach to crime
and the distribution of policing grants from central Government
Commissioner Charles has made the following commitments in his Police and Crime
Plan
• To keep the Police and support services public so that Derbyshire Communities will benefit
rather than private Shareholders. Where we do need to work with specialist providers for
items such as complex IT systems Alan Charles will ensure value for money and, where
possible, efficiencies can be reinvested in policing.
• Maintain community policing across Derbyshire - working with local Community Safety
Partnerships to find local solutions to crime and antisocial behaviour problems.
• Stand up for victims, vulnerable people, and take Domestic Abuse seriously - working with
victims to improve the service provided in the future.
• Ensure that robust procedures are in place to protect families and those suffering from
incidents of Domestic Abuse and Hate Crime.
• Work with Mental Health, Drug and Alcohol Abuse organisations to explore ways of
early intervention to prevent entry to the criminal justice system.
• Work with road safety professionals in Police, Council & Highways Agency teams to improve
road safety for all users.
• Tackle wildlife crime and cruelty towards animals.
• Ensure that local residents see value for money from the Police.
Phone: 0300 1226000
Web: www.derbyshire-pcc.gov.uk