Issue - meetings

Councillor Max Schmid stressed that the Council was committed to continue to lead on Ethical Debt collection by working closely with vulnerable residents and not employing Enforcement Agents for the collection of Council Tax. The 2020/21 Council Tax income had been adversely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, with an estimated in-year loss of £6m, which would lead to significant pressures on the Council’s budget. The Government had announced that it would fund only 75% of these irrecoverable losses, despite previously having stated that it would be fully funded by the Government.

AGREED UNANIMOUSLY BY CABINET:

That Cabinet approves the following recommendations to Full Council for the financial year 2021/22: 

1.    That the estimated numbers of properties for each Valuation Band as set out in this report be approved. 

2.    That an estimated collection rate of 97.0% be approved. 
 

3.    That the Council Tax Base of 80,930 Band “D” equivalent properties be approved.

4.    To delegate authority to the Director of Finance in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Commercial Services, to determine the business rates tax base for 2021/22.

5.    To note the provisional in-year 2020/21 council tax collection fund deficit of £6m and that the estimate will continue to be reviewed. The overall deficit, taking account of prior years, is estimated at £5.550m.

6.    To confirm, subject to confirmation of an estimated financial benefit, that the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham wishes to continue in a pan-London business rates pool in 2021/22.