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Council Tax Report
REPORT TO CABINET ON 10 DECEMBER 2003
APPROVAL OF THE COUNCIL TAX BASE AND BORROWING LIMITS
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND FACILITIES
PURPOSE OF THE REPORT
1. This report recommends that delegated authority is given to the Director of Finance and Facilities to approve the calculation of the City Council’s Council Tax Base each year, with effect from 2004/05 and that the City Council’s Constitution be amended accordingly. The report also makes a proposal in relation to the setting of the Council’s Borrowing Limits.
PROPOSAL
2. Prior to the Local Government Act 2003, the City Council was required, by the Local Government Finance Act 1992, to approve the calculation of its Council Tax Base each year, at a full meeting of the Council between 1 December and 31 January. This requirement is also currently reflected in the Council’s Constitution.
3. The Local Government Act 2003 has now removed the requirement for this function to be carried out at a meeting of the City Council and, as it is a purely technical matter over which there is effectively no discretion, it is proposed that the Director of Finance and Facilities be given delegated authority to carry out the function by means of a Band B Decision.
4. It is also proposed that the City Council’s Constitution be further amended to reflect that the requirement for Council to approve the setting of its own Borrowing Limits, under the Local Government & Housing Act 1989, will cease with effect from 2004/05. Such limits will be replaced by the need to set a number of Prudential Indicators under the Local Government Act 2003 and it is intended that this issue will be included in the report on the Budget for 2004/05 to the Council on 5 March 2004.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
5. There are no financial implications arising from the recommendations in this report.
RECOMMENDATIONS
6. It is proposed that the Cabinet recommend the City Council to grant delegated authority to the Director of Finance and Facilities to approve the calculation of the City Council’s Council Tax Base each year, with effect from the calculation of the Tax Base for the financial year 2004/05 and to give approval for the City Council’s Constitution to be amended accordingly.
7. It is also proposed that the City Council’s Constitution be further amended to reflect that the requirement for Council to approve the setting of its own Borrowing Limits, under the Local Government & Housing Act 1989, will cease with effect from 2004/05.
Laraine Manley
Director of Finance and Facilities
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