The Lead Member for Finance and Ascot introduced the report that dealt with the statutory requirement to set the Council’s tax base for Council Tax for 2020/21.

Cabinet were informed that the tax base was used by Thames Valley Police, Berkshire Fire and Rescue Authority, local Parish Councils as well as the Royal Borough for setting precepts and Council Tax. 

464 additional properties had been added to the tax base, which was lower than expected given the level of planning approvals, but these take time to come through the system. 

The current collection rate was 99.5% and appendix A showed the number of properties receiving a discount such as 25% fr single occupancy and that after two years empty properties had their discount revoked to encourage bringing properties back in use.

Resolved unanimously:  that Cabinet notes the report and:

i)          Approves the Council Tax base for the whole of the Borough area, for 2020/21 at 68,817 as detailed in this report and appendices. This is an increase of 464 over the 2019/20 base, a 0.7% increase.

ii)         Note a Council Tax collection rate of 99.5% for 2020/21.

iii)        Note an estimated deficit on the Council Tax Collection Fund in

2019/20 of £142k of which the Council’s share is £113k.