Your guide to Council Tax and Business Rates 2021/2022 - London Borough ...
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Your guide to Council Tax and Business Rates 2021/2022
Contents
Introduction from the Leader of the Council 3
How much is my Council Tax this year and has it changed from last year? 6
How is Council Tax calculated and what does it pay for? 7
What is the Council doing to keep Council Tax rises
to a minimum and maintain the quality of services? 9
Where does the borough’s funding come from and how is it spent? 10
Budgeted expenditure and funding 2020/21 11
Budgeted expenditure and funding 2021/22 12
Capital and Education expenditure 13–14
Greater London Authority (Police, Fire, Transport) 16–18
Levies 20–22
Help with your Council Tax / rent payments and
Council Tax discounts and exemptions 24–26
Business Rates and Valuation Appeals 27– 28
Useful links and contacts 30–31
Other languages 32
For the latest news from the Council, go to:
www.richmond.gov.uk/news or follow @LBRUT on Twitter
2 WWW.RICHMOND.GOV.UK
Councillor
Gareth Roberts
Leader of the London
Borough of Richmond
upon Thames
2020 was a year like nothing we Supported over 3,000 children
with free school meal vouchers
could ever have imagined –
COVID-19 posed a challenge
that no-one was prepared for.
Individually, the pandemic has put a huge
amount of strain and pressure on every
element of our lives – our mental and
physical wellbeing, our finances, our jobs,
our families and relationships and the Committed £5m to a new agreement
education of our children. to deliver affordable housing
For the Council, it has put strain on our
services. We have needed to deliver social
care support to an increasing number of
adults and children, in extremely tough
working environments for our frontline staff.
We have seen an increased demand on
our green spaces and waste and recycling Moved to purchasing 100%
services. We have seen a loss of income from renewable electricity
our parking, leisure and culture services.
We are committed to delivering a fair finance
deal for everyone in Richmond upon Thames.
In 2021 this means recognising the pressure
on your household budget.
This is why we are restricting the increase
on our element of Council Tax to just 0.6%, Supported over 2,000 vulnerable adults
plus a 3% increase to fund the increase in during the COVID-19 pandemic
the precept for Adult Social Care allowed
under government funding plans. This is
the lowest increase for the past five years.
We are also freezing all fees and charges,
including for parking.
Published our Active Travel Strategy
continued overleaf >
3 WWW.RICHMOND.GOV.UK
We will invest in road maintenance, building
and infrastructure. We have also allocated
additional funding to our planning service
to ensure a strong post COVID-19 recovery
across the borough, that benefits everyone,
as we start to shape our new Local Plan.
Distributed over £50m in COVID
business support grants We will increase the affordable housing
supply and invest in looking after the
homeless in the borough. We have put
additional funding towards delivering this
year’s climate emergency action plan.
We are adding resource to our Business
Support Team, to aid the local economic
recovery work after the pandemic and the
Raised over £100,000 for the reinvigoration of our high streets and
Richmond Voluntary Fund town centres.
We are committing £2.4m to reflect increased
demand for children’s social care, but the
projected £18m funding gap for Special
Educational Needs and Disability (SEND)
support remains one of the biggest threats
to our finances.
Launched a £500k pilot scheme to
support homeless people and helped And we are setting aside funding to allow us
80 people escape rough sleeping to continue to respond to the challenges that
the pandemic continues to create.
The way the borough has pulled together
We have spent the last few years carefully over the last 12 months has made me even
managing the Council’s finances to ensure more proud to call Richmond upon Thames
we can do this for you when you need it my home.
most, while continuing to provide critical In 2021, there are going to be challenges and
services and delivering our key priorities. curve balls, but by working together, we can
This year we will invest your Council Tax in make sure we recover stronger than before
the things that impact your daily lives. and make Richmond upon Thames an even
better place to call home.
There will be additional relief to those
working age households in receipt of
Council Tax support, with a further
reduction of up to £150.
4 WWW.RICHMOND.GOV.UK
Council Tax
Council Tax
How much will I pay for Council Tax in 2021/22?
GREATER TOTAL
RICHMOND LONDON COUNCIL
COUNCIL AUTHORITY TAX
BAND (2021/22) (2021/22) (2021/22)
£ £ £
A 1,063.33 242.44 1,305.77
B 1,240.55 282.85 1,523.40
C 1,417.78 323.25 1,741.03
D 1,595.00 363.66 1,958.66
E 1,949.44 444.47 2,393.91
F 2,303.89 525.29 2,829.18
G 2,658.33 606.10 3,264.43
H 3,189.99 727.32 3,917.31
How has the Council Tax changed since last year?
The overall Council Tax for this year has increased by 4.65%. The Richmond element is a 0.6%
increase plus a 3% adult social care precept and the Greater London Authority (GLA) element is
a 9.51% increase.
Band D Changes 2020/21 2021/22 Change Change
£ £ £ %
Richmond Council 1,539.57 1,595.00 55.43 3.60%
Greater London Authority 332.07 363.66 31.59 9.51%
Total Council Tax 1,871.64 1,958.66 87.02 4.65%
As part of the Provisional Local Government residents who may have been impacted by
Finance Settlement 2021/22 the Secretary of the pandemic, the Council will be limiting
State confirmed the continuation of the option the increase of its element of Council Tax
of increasing Council Tax by up to 1.99% in from April 2021 to 0.6% and charge an
2021/22 before a referendum is required. This additional 3% specifically to be used to
is in addition to the Social Care “precept” fund adult social care.
element which can be up to 3% for Richmond
which must be spent on protecting adult
social care. In order to reduce the impact on
6 WWW.RICHMOND.GOV.UK
What is Council Tax?
Council Tax is the local tax that helps to pay falls within. The bands relate to the value of
for a wide variety of public services in your your property on 1st April 1991, with new
area. Each household receives a bill, whether properties having their values assessed back
the property is owned or rented. to this date. The assessments are made by
the Government’s Valuation Office Agency.
The amount of Council Tax you are charged
depends on the band that your property
How is Council Tax calculated?
1. We plan services for the coming year and 3. We deduct the amount of grant due
then calculate their costs, less any income from Central Government and the
from fees and charges. amount of Business Rates the Council
is able to retain.
2. The payment to the GLA is added.
This pays for services such as Police, 4. The resulting total is then divided by the
Fire and Transport. number of properties, taking account of the
Council Tax Property Bands.
What does the Richmond Council Tax pay for?
The Richmond Council element of Council • Sports and cultural services
Tax pays for many services used by the local
• Waste collection and recycling
community, including:
• Road and street maintenance
• Social services for older people and people
with learning or physical disabilities • Library services
• Vulnerable children • Parks
• Homelessness services
What does the Greater London Authority charge pay for?
A proportion of Council Tax is paid to the Fire services and City Hall. The budget for
GLA as the borough’s contribution towards this is determined by the Mayor of London.
the costs incurred for Transport, Police,
7 WWW.RICHMOND.GOV.UK
What is the Adult Social Care Precept? The offer is the option of an adult social care authority being able to charge, from 2016/17, an additional “precept” on its Council Tax without holding a local referendum, to assist the authority in meeting expenditure on adult social care. Subject to the annual approval of the House of Commons, the Secretary of State intends to offer the option of charging this “adult social care precept” at an appropriate level each year and this has been set at an additional 3% in the financial year 2021/22. 8 WWW.RICHMOND.GOV.UK
What is the Council doing to keep Council Tax rises to a minimum and
maintain the quality of services in 2021/22?
In November 2020 the Government concluded and inflationary pressures. The Council’s
consultation on a one year spending review aims are to ensure that the health and
proposal in which it set out a number of economic impacts of the pandemic are
proposals. This included continuation of mitigated as far as possible; to promote a
the assurance that no Authority would strong recovery, to continue to deliver on
suffer “negative” Revenue support Grant key priorities including Fairer Finances, the
(a proposed payment to the Government) Climate Emergency Strategy and provision
for the short term and a continuation of Affordable Housing, and to manage
of the Social Care Support funding for the Council’s finances responsibly in the
Adults and Children’s Social care. It was light of continued uncertainty, including
also announced that COVID-19 support a continuing efficiency programme.
grant would continue in 2021/22 to assist
The Council is continuing to implement
the borough with the ongoing financial
significant change to deliver efficiencies.
implications of the pandemic. Since 2010,
For instance, the Council has successfully
the Council’s general Government Grant and
implemented delivery models for a number
Retained Business Rates has reduced by
of shared service partnerships. The most
around £40m in cash terms (in real terms this
significant of these, created in 2016, is
would be higher), with Richmond remaining
a shared staffing arrangement with the
one of the lowest funded boroughs.
London Borough of Wandsworth in which
Whilst the settlement is a welcome recognition the two councils share staff. In 2014,
of the challenges facing local government, it alongside the Royal Borough of Kingston, the
is important to note that this is for one year Council created Achieving for Children, an
only and offers no certainty beyond that. award- winning social enterprise company
The Settlement allows councils to increase which provides children’s services to both
Council Tax by up to 1.99% in 2021/22. This councils and, since August 2017, the Royal
is in addition to a further increase of up to 3% Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.
which must be spent on protecting adult social Other successful shared services cover
care. It has always been the Council’s aim to Audit, Youth Offending, Pensions,
minimise any increases in Council Tax, but Regulatory Services and Legal Services.
also to balance this with the need to provide
Since 2011/12 the Council has achieved
the level of services that residents expect
efficiencies of around £74m. £30m of these
whilst protecting its most vulnerable residents.
have been achieved by internal restructuring
The Council will be increasing the council and the sharing of services with other
tax by 0.6% this year to reflect estimates for organisations, £23m from procurement and
future inflation plus 3% for adult social care. contract savings and £21m from income
The decision on Council Tax each year will generation, inflation restrictions and other
depend on a variety of factors including final savings. The Council has already identified an
Government funding decisions, demand additional £2.6m of extra savings in 2021/22.
for services, achievement of savings and
efficiencies, income from fees and charges,
9 WWW.RICHMOND.GOV.UK
Where does the borough’s funding come from?
After the Council’s fees and Retained Business
Council Tax 89%
charges, government grants Rates 11%
and other income, the net
service budget (excluding
schools) is funded from 89%
Council Tax and 11% from
Retained Business Rates,
receiving no Revenue Support
Grant in 2021/22, nor in the
previous year.
General
Government
Grant 0%
How is the money spent?
Adult
This chart shows the
45%
proportion of Council
gross revenue expenditure Social Services
on each service. This (including Housing
does not include schools, and Regeneration)
internal support charges,
19%
capital charges, Housing
Benefit payments or the
Council’s payment to the
GLA. You can read more Environment
about the services the GLA & Community
22%
provides on pages 16–18. Services
(including Arts, Libraries and Sports)
7%
Children’s
Services
4% (AfC Contract and
Children’s Public
Health services) Resources
Central Costs
and Contingencies
3% Chief
Executive’s Group
10 WWW.RICHMOND.GOV.UKThe following tables show the Council’s expenditure plans for this year in comparison with last year. Both tables exclude internal support charges, depreciation, and deferred capital charges. BUDGETED EXPENDITURE GROSS NET NET AND FUNDING EXPENDITURE INCOME EXPENDITURE EXPENDITURE 2020/21 £000’s £000’s £000’s PER RESIDENT £ Adult Social Services, 93,806 -42,049 51,757 260.29 Health and Housing Education and Children’s Services 50,299 -14,433 35,866 180.37 Environment, Sustainability, Culture and Sports 30,087 -14,275 15,812 79.52 Finance, Policy and Resources 107,000 -75,428 31,572 158.78 Transport and Air Quality 13,827 -19,918 -6,091 -30.63 Schools 165,508 0 165,508 832.36 Non-Distributed Costs 4,257 4,257 21.41 Expenditure on services 464,784 -166,103 298,681 1,502.10 Non Ringfenced Grants -1,825 -9.18 Dedicated Schools Grant -165,508 -832.36 Central Capital and Treasury charges 9,378 47.16 Contribution to/from Earmarked Reserves 4,775 24.01 Contribution to/from Earmarked Reserves – Council Tax Reduction -400 -2.01 Contingency 500 2.51 Contingency – National Insurance and Pay Award 5,549 27.92 Investment Items 1,710 8.60 Total expenditure on the Council’s services 152,860 768.75 Lee Valley Regional Park levy 208 1.05 Environment Agency Flood Defence levy 203 1.02 London Pensions Fund Authority levy 300 1.51 West London Waste levy 7,659 38.52 LBRUT Budget Requirement 161,230 810.84 Revenue Support Grant 0 0 Retained Business Rates -23,355 -117.46 Surplus on Collection Fund -1,250 -6.29 LBRUT Council Tax Requirement (excluding GLA Precept) 136,625 687.10 Greater London Authority (GLA) Precept 29,468 148.20 Council Tax Requirement (including GLA Precept) 166,093 835.30 Tax Base (equivalent Band D properties) / Population 88,742 198,843 Band 'D' Council Tax 1,871.63 11 WWW.RICHMOND.GOV.UK
BUDGETED EXPENDITURE GROSS NET NET AND FUNDING EXPENDITURE INCOME EXPENDITURE EXPENDITURE 2021/22 £000’s £000’s £000’s PER RESIDENT £ Adult Social Services, 94,082 -40,378 53,704 268.80 Health and Housing Education and Children’s Services 53,229 -14,921 38,308 191.74 Environment, Sustainability, Culture and Sports 31,622 -12,182 19,440 97.30 Finance, Policy and Resources 95,215 -64,384 30,831 154.31 Transport and Air Quality 14,354 -19,689 -5,335 -26.70 Schools 178,192 0 178,192 891.88 Non-Distributed Costs 4,257 4,257 21.31 Expenditure on services 470,951 -151,554 319,397 1,598.63 Non Ringfenced Grants -8,001 -40.05 Dedicated Schools Grant -178,192 -891.88 Central Capital and Treasury charges 9,578 47.94 Contribution to/from Earmarked Reserves 4,432 22.18 Contribution to/from Earmarked Reserves – Council Tax Reduction -286 -1.43 Contingency 500 2.50 Contingency – National Insurance and Pay Award 4,628 23.16 Contingency - COVID-19 Recovery 1,000 5.01 Investment Items 500 2.50 Total expenditure on the Council’s services 153,556 768.57 Lee Valley Regional Park levy 213 1.07 Environment Agency Flood Defence levy 208 1.04 London Pensions Fund Authority levy 302 1.51 West London Waste levy 8,397 42.03 LBRUT Budget Requirement 162,676 814.21 Revenue Support Grant 0 0 Retained Business Rates -21,817 -109.20 Deficit on Collection Fund 277 1.39 LBRUT Council Tax Requirement (excluding GLA Precept) 141,136 706.40 Greater London Authority (GLA) Precept 32,179 161.06 Council Tax Requirement (including GLA Precept) 173,315 867.46 Tax Base (equivalent Band D properties) / Population 88,487 199,795 Band 'D' Council Tax 1,958.67 NB: NNDR is National Non-Domestic Rates 12 WWW.RICHMOND.GOV.UK
£000’s £000’s
Council Tax Requirement 2020/21 (excluding GLA Precept) 136,625
Inflation 3,370
Impact of grant changes
New Homes Bonus Grant 525
COVID-19 Grant/ Fees and charges compensation -5,244
Localised Council Tax Support Grant -1,882
Specific and other Grant changes -958
. -7,559
Impact of outside body changes
National and London Living Wage 500
Concessionary Fares reduced payment -1,261
Retained NNDR 2,576
Other 329 2,144
Demand led growth
Children’s Social Care 2,444
Care services for older people and adults with learning difficulties 500
Other COVID-19 related pressures 4,443
COVID-19 Recovery Contingency Fund 1,000 8,387
Investment priorities
Treasury 76
Investment Initiatives 500 576
Other growth and savings
Contribution to reserves -1,455
Other 1,723 268
Efficiencies and income generation
Savings from procurement and contract savings -885
Other Efficiencies -1,790 -2,675
Council Tax Requirement 2021/22 (excluding GLA Precept) 141,136
Actual Capital Spending 2019/20
£000’s
Adult Social Services, Health and Housing 2,356
Education and Children’s Services 6,539
Environment, Sustainability, Culture and Sports 1,018
Finance, Policy and Resources 1,820
Transport and Air Quality 7,144
Total Capital Spend 18,877
13 WWW.RICHMOND.GOV.UKOutstanding Long-Term Borrowing 2020 2021 2022
Actual Estimated Estimated
£000’s £000’s £000’s
Maximum estimated external borrowing at 31st 133,723 129,015 140,944
March implied by the Capital Programme
How is education funded?
Central Government will provide £178m to pay for education services for Richmond pupils next
year. The money pays for a range of services.
Schools 73.7% High needs 17.1%
Central Services 0.6%
Early Years 8.6%
BUDGETED EXPENDITURE GROSS
AND FUNDING EXPENDITURE
2021/22 £000’s
SCHOOLS: 131,335
Day to day running of Richmond Schools
EARLY YEARS: 15,338
including free nursery care for under 5s, additional support for under 5s with special
educational needs
CENTRAL SERVICES: 982
including the school admissions service, school improvement and additional support for
children looked after by the authority
HIGH NEEDS: 30,537
Additional support for pupils with special educational needs or disabilities and for pupils who can’t be
educated in mainstream schools because of health or behavioural reasons
The borough expects to spend more on high needs education services next year than the
funding provided by Central Government. The Council recognises that this area of education is
significantly underfunded and is providing cashflow from other funding sources to ensure that
these services are protected.
14 WWW.RICHMOND.GOV.UKGreater London Authority
Introduction
The Mayor of London’s budget for the 2021- The budget also provides resources
22 financial year sets out his priorities to to support jobs and growth, fund skills
support London’s recovery from the COVID-19 and retraining programmes, help rough
pandemic and to tackle the huge social, sleepers, invest in youth services and make
health and economic inequalities which it has London a fairer and cleaner place to live.
exposed and exacerbated. It supports job
The budget prioritises resources for the
creation and London’s business community,
Metropolitan Police and London Fire Brigade
our city’s future growth and economic success
to keep Londoners safe, including violence
and the Mayor’s vision to rebuild London
reduction initiatives and initiatives to improve
as a greener, cleaner and safer city with
opportunities for young Londoners. In
stronger and more cohesive communities.
light of the significant reductions in fare
This year’s budget will provide resources to revenues and property tax income due to
improve the key public services Londoners the pandemic some difficult decisions have
need. This includes delivering more been unavoidable. However, this budget
genuinely affordable homes, securing remains focused on delivering a swift and
funding to maintain and expand the capital’s sustainable recovery from the pandemic,
transport infrastructure and tackling toxic as well as building the better, brighter, fairer
air pollution and the climate emergency. future all Londoners want and deserve.
Council Tax for GLA Services
The GLA’s share of the council tax for a Brigade and will also go towards maintaining
typical Band D property has been increased existing travel concessions for the under 18s
by £31.59 (or 61p per week) to £363.66. and Londoners aged 60 and over. Council
The additional income raised will fund the taxpayers in the City of London, which has
Metropolitan Police and the London Fire its own police force, will pay £96.53.
Council Tax 2020/21 Change 2021/22
£ £ £
MOPAC (Metropolitan Police) 252.13 15.00 267.13
LFC (London Fire Brigade) 55.28 1.59 56.87
GLA 22.69 -0.12 22.57
TfL (Transport) 1.97 15.12 17.09
Total 332.07 31.59 363.66
16 WWW.RICHMOND.GOV.UKInvesting in Frontline Services
This budget will enable the Mayor to fulfil his • continuing the Hopper bus fare, which
key priorities for London. These include: makes transport more affordable for
millions of Londoners;
• ensuring the Metropolitan Police have the
resources they need to tackle violent crime – • opening the central London section of the
the Mayor has funded 1,300 additional police Elizabeth line (the operational name for
officer posts from locally raised council tax Crossrail) in the first half of 2022, followed
and business rates revenues; by the full line opening with through services
as soon as possible to increase central
• tackling the underlying causes of crime
London’s rail capacity by ten per cent. TfL
through the rollout of funding to support
will also open the Northern line extension
disadvantaged young Londoners access
to Nine Elms and Battersea Power station
positive opportunities and constructive
in 2021;
activities that allow them to make the most of
their potential, as well as resources for new • continuing to tackle London’s housing crisis,
violence reduction initiatives; by investing £4.4 billion to continue delivering
116,000 affordable home starts within
• protecting vulnerable children and women at
London by 2023 and an additional 35,000
risk of abuse and domestic violence;
by 2026, as well as allocating resources
• providing enough resources to the London to tackle homelessness and reduce
Fire Brigade (LFB) to ensure that first and rough sleeping;
second fire engines arrive at emergency
• tackling the climate emergency through
incidents within 10 minutes on at least
continued roll out of a £50 million Green
90 per cent of occasions and 12 minutes
New Deal for London fund;
on at least 95 per cent of occasions
respectively, after being dispatched. The • investing in Healthy Streets to fund projects
Mayor is also providing resources to rollout to enable more walking and cycling across
a transformation programme so that the LFB London. The Mayor will also expand the
can implement the recommendations of the Ultra Low Emission Zone to the North and
Grenfell fire inquiry. This includes investing in South Circular roads in Autumn 2021 to
the new vehicles and equipment required; tackle air pollution; and
• working with London boroughs to maintain • funding projects to bring Londoners
existing concessionary travel and assisted together, promote arts, sports and
door to door transport schemes. This culture, help tackle inequality and
includes for example, maintaining free bus improve the environment.
and tram travel for under 18s as well as
free off-peak travel across the network for
Londoners aged 60+, the disabled, armed
forces personnel in uniform and eligible
armed services veterans and protecting the
Taxicard and Dial a Ride schemes;
17 WWW.RICHMOND.GOV.UKSummary of GLA Budget
The following tables compare the GLA concessionary free travel for under 18s and
group’s planned spending for 2021-22 with Londoners aged 60 and over. There has also
last year and set out why it has changed. been a 1.0 per cent decrease in London’s
The GLA’s gross expenditure is higher this residential property taxbase.
year. This is mainly due to the impact of
Find out more about our budget at:
extra investment planned by the Mayor in
www.london.gov.uk/budget
transport and policing. Overall the council tax
requirement has increased because of the
extra funding for the Metropolitan Police, the
London Fire Brigade and maintaining existing
How the GLA’s budget is funded 2021/22
£m
Gross expenditure 13,804.4
Government grants and retained business rates -8,453.9
Fares, charges and other income -5,136.9
Change in reserves 883.0
Amount met by Council Taxpayer 1,096.6
Changes in spending 2021/22
£m
2020-21 council tax requirement 1,010.9
Inflation 176.7
Efficiencies and other savings -196.3
New initiatives 383.3
Other changes (for example fares revenue and Government Grants) -278.0
Amount met by council taxpayers 1,096.6
18 WWW.RICHMOND.GOV.UKLevies
Levies
Residents of Richmond upon Thames The levies are allocated between relevant
contribute to the budgets of levying bodies. boroughs based upon Tax Base.
Levies relate to services used by the local
area but not directly delivered by the Council.
2020/21 2021/22
Budget Budget
£000’s £000’s
West London Waste Authority 7,658 8,397
London Pensions Fund Authority 300 302
Lee Valley Regional Park Authority 208 213
Environment Agency 203 208
Total 8,369 9,120
West London Waste Authority
West London Waste Authority (WLWA) The overall cost of waste disposal for WLWA
carries out the waste disposal function for 6 2021/22 has been estimated as £65.1m.
London Boroughs – Brent, Ealing, Harrow, WLWA levies the constituent boroughs for
Hillingdon, Hounslow and Richmond upon the costs of waste transport and disposal
Thames. Around 96% of the waste is sent according to the volume of waste actually
to generate energy at one of two Energy received. WLWA’s fixed costs are allocated
Recovery Facilities. Any separate food waste using each borough’s Council Tax Base
collected generates heat and power as well figures for 2020/21.
as producing a fertilizer for use by farmers via
The London Borough of Richmond upon
a process called Anaerobic Digestion.
Thames has set aside £8.4m for the
WLWA levy in 2021/22 compared to
£7.7m in 2020/21.
London Pensions Fund Authority
The London Pensions Fund Authority (LPFA) For 2021/22, the income to be raised by the
raises a levy each year to meet expenditure levies is set out below. The Greater London
on premature retirement compensation and levy is payable in all boroughs, the Inner
outstanding personnel matters for which London levy only in Inner London Boroughs
LPFA is responsible and cannot charge to the (including the City of London). The figures
pension fund. These payments relate to former show the total to be raised and the percentage
employees of the Greater London Council change on the previous year.
(GLC), the Inner London Education Authority
(ILEA) and the London Residuary Body (LRB).
20 WWW.RICHMOND.GOV.UK2021/22
£000’s
Inner London 13,065
Greater London 10,318
Total 23,383 (0%)
Lee Valley Regional Park Authority
Lee Valley Regional Park is a unique leisure, This year there has been a 2% increase in
sports and environmental destination for all this levy. Find out more about hundreds of
residents of London, Essex and Hertfordshire. great days out, world class sports venues
and award winning parklands at
The 26 mile long, 10,000 acre park, much of
www.visitleevalley.org.uk
it formerly derelict land, is partly funded by a
levy on the Council Tax.
Budget / Levy – 2021/22
2021/22
£m
Authority Operating Expenditure 20.9
Authority Operating Income (12.7)
Net Service Operating Costs 8.2
Financing Costs
– Debt servicing / repayments 0.5
– New capital investment 0.8
Total Net Expenditure 9.5
Total Levy (9.8)
Further details on how this budget is spent and the amount each council contributes can
be found at www.leevalleypark.org.uk
21 WWW.RICHMOND.GOV.UKEnvironment Agency
The Environment Agency is a levying body river and along tidal and sea defences in
for its Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk the area of the Thames Regional Flood and
Management Functions under the Flood Coastal Committee. Money is spent on the
and Water Management Act 2010 and the construction of new flood defence schemes,
Environment Agency (Levies) (England and the maintenance of the river system and
Wales) Regulations 2011. existing flood defences together with the
operation of a flood warning system and
The Environment Agency has powers in
management of the risk of coastal erosion.
respect of flood and coastal erosion risk
The financial details are:
management for 5200 kilometres of main
Thames Regional Flood and
Coastal Committee
2020/21 2021/22
£000’s £000’s
Gross Expenditure 132,291 133,962
Levies Raised 11,807 12,042
Total Council Tax Base 5,163 5,127
The majority of funding for flood defence A change in the gross budgeted expenditure
comes directly from the Department for the between years reflects the programme of
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). works for both capital and revenue needed
However, under the new Partnership Funding by the Regional Flood and Coastal
rule not all schemes will attract full central Committee to which you contribute. The
funding. To provide local funding for local total Local Levy raised by this committee
priorities and contributions for partnership has increased by 1.99%.
funding the Regional Flood and Coastal
The total Local Levy raised has increased
Committees recommend through the
from £11,807,323 in 2020/2021 to
Environment Agency a local levy.
£12,042,289 for 2021/2022.
22 WWW.RICHMOND.GOV.UKHelp with your Council Tax and rent payments
Help with your Council Tax and rent payments
If you are living on a low income or in receipt for Council Tax reduction as this is not
of benefits such as Universal Credit, Job paid as part of entitlement.
seekers Allowance or Employment Support
Housing Benefit or Universal Credit is also
Allowance you might be entitled to some help
available to help people on a low income
with your Council Tax or rent payments.
with their rent payments. You don’t have to
In some circumstances if other adults live in be unemployed to make a claim for these
your home (other than your spouse, partner, benefits. For example, if you are working but
or lodger) and you are living on a low income earning a low wage or you are living on a
you may still be entitled to a reduction in your pension or other benefits, you may be entitled
Council Tax bill. to some help.
Also, from 1st April 2014 the maximum More information can be found at www.
Council Tax reduction will be limited to richmond.gov.uk/help_with_paying_ your_
Band E for working age people who are not rent_and_council_tax or on the Government
considered to be vulnerable. This means website www.direct.gov.uk You can find out if
that the Council will only use the Council Tax you may be entitled to a reduction by using
charge for a Band E property to calculate the our online benefits calculator at www2.
amount of Council Tax reduction due. richmond.gov.uk/ benefit_calculator
If you are on Universal credit or any other
benefit you will need to apply separately
Council Tax Bills
Discounts and exemptions
The Council Tax bill is based on at least two adults living in your home. If you are the only adult
living in your home, it is likely that we can reduce your bill by a quarter. You do not have to pay
Council Tax on some homes known as exempt properties and some people are not counted
when we work out the Council Tax. So even if there is more than one adult in your home you
may still get a discount. On the next page is a full list of discounts and exemptions.
24 WWW.RICHMOND.GOV.UKDiscounts Exemptions – Occupied properties
• 25% single person discount • Student household exemption
• Full time student • Severely mentally impaired exemption
• Apprentice • Diplomats and their dependents
• Foreign language assistants • Visiting forces or their dependents
• Student nurses • Armed forces and married quarters
• Youth training trainees • Student halls of residence
• Non-British spouse or dependant • People under 18
of a student
• Dependent relative in an annex
• Carers
• Non-British spouse or partner or
• People in care or nursing homes dependent of a student
• People in detention Exemptions –
• People in hostels Unoccupied properties
• When a person is in hospital or
• Members of a religious community
a care home
• People moved permanently to hospital
• Where occupation is prohibited by law
• People over 18 for whom child benefit
• When repossessed by the mortgagee
is still paid
• Left empty by students
• School leavers
• An annex left empty that cannot be
• People living in a property as a condition
let separately
of their employment
• Left empty by people receiving or
• Annex occupied together with
providing care
another property
• Left empty by people in detention
• Diplomats and their dependants
• Properties left empty when someone dies
• International Defence Organisations
• Owned by charities
• Visiting forces and their dependants
• Awaiting occupation by ministers
• Severe mental impairment
of religion
• Caravan pitch or boat mooring
• Responsibility of trustee in bankruptcy
25 WWW.RICHMOND.GOV.UKLong-term empty premium
From the 1st April 2019, properties that have From the 1st April 2021 this premium will again
been unoccupied and unfurnished for more increase to 300% for properties that have been
than two years will be charged an additional unoccupied and unfurnished for more than
premium of 100% council tax. ten years. This is regardless of any change of
ownership during that period.
From the 1st April 2020, the premium increased
to 200% for properties that have been
unoccupied and unfurnished for more than
five years.
Relief for people with a disability
If anyone living in your home has a disability and will still get a reduction. This will not depend on
uses a wheelchair at home or needs a room or your income or savings. If you think you may be
extra bathroom or kitchen to meet their special entitled to any of these Council Tax reductions,
needs, you may be entitled to a reduced bill. please go to: www.richmond.gov.uk/council_
tax for further information and to download an
If this applies we will charge you at the rate of
application form. If you do not have access to
the band immediately below that shown for your
our website, please contact 020 8891 1411.
home. If your home is already in Band A, you
Council Tax Appeals
The Council has done its best to ensure your Please contact us by:
Council Tax has been calculated correctly.
Writing to:
You can appeal if you think that:
London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames
• You are not the person who should pay the Council Tax Service, PO Box 72388,
Council Tax LONDON SW18 9PL
• Your home is exempt Email: counciltax@richmond.gov.uk
• The amount on your bill is wrong. Or visit: www.richmond.gov.uk/council_tax
26 WWW.RICHMOND.GOV.UKBusiness Rates
What are Non-Domestic Rates?
Non-Domestic Rates, or Business Rates, are collected by local authorities and are the way that
those who occupy non-domestic property contribute towards the cost of local services.
How are Non-Domestic Rates calculated?
The amount a business pays will depend on two factors:
• Rateable value of the business premises – • Multiplier – The multiplier is set by Central
The rateable value is set by the Government’s Government each year and represents the
Valuation Office Agency (not the Council) unit rate at which Business Rates will be
and is based on the rental value for which charged. The Government sets a Small
a property could have been let on the open Business Rates Multiplier (0.499 in 2021/22)
market on 1st April 2015 – plus the square and a Standard Business Rates Multiplier
footage, usage and location. (0.512 in 2021/22) each year.
Small Business Rate Relief
Ratepayers who occupy a property with a below £12,000, the ratepayer will receive 100%
rateable value of less than £51,000 will have their reduction in their rates bill. This relief decreases
bill calculated using the Small Business Rates on a sliding scale of 1% for every £30 of rateable
Multiplier unless they are entitled to another value over £12,000 up to £15,000.
mandatory relief e.g. charitable relief or are liable
For full eligibility criteria visit the Council’s
for unoccupied property rates.
website. If you think that you meet the criteria but
In addition, if the sole or main property is have not received the relief, please contact the
shown on the rating list with a rateable value Business Rates Team on 020 8891 7725.
Empty Properties
(Unoccupied Property Rates)
Business Rates will not be payable in the first properties owned by charities and community
three months that a property is empty. This is amateur sports clubs and there are a number
extended to six months in the case of certain of other exemptions from the unoccupied
industrial properties. After this period, empty property rate. Full details on exemptions can be
rates are payable in full. However, in most obtained from the Business Rates Team.
cases the unoccupied property rate is zero for
27 WWW.RICHMOND.GOV.UKRetail, Hospitality and Valuation Appeals – Business
Leisure Discount Rates and Council Tax
The Government announced in the Budget on • If you think that the rateable value of your
3 March 2021 that it would extend the Business business property is wrong or
Rates 100% Retail, Hospitality and Leisure
• If you have a query about the valuation band
Discount for 3 months, to cover the period until
of your property or
30 June 2021, followed by 66% business rates
relief for the period from 1 July 2021 to 31 March • If you wish to appeal and have moved into
2022, subject to rules around capping. This your home in the last six months or
means that all annual and daily bills issued to
• If your property has changed significantly
businesses in the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure
within the last six months, please contact the
sectors up until the end of May 2021 will show
Valuation Office Agency:
a zero balance to pay for the 2021/22 financial
year and accounts will then be recalculated Website: gov.uk/contact-voa
in early June 2021 so that instalments will be
Phone: 03000 501 501
payable from 1 July 2021. For more information
and to apply online, visit www.richmond.gov. YOU MUST CONTINUE TO PAY YOUR
uk/business_rates COUNCIL TAX AND/ OR BUSINESS RATES
WHILE YOU APPEAL
Covid-19 Lockdown and
Restrictions Business Grants
For details on current grant schemes
available please visit richmond.gov.uk/
business_grantsUseful links and contacts
Useful Links Useful Definitions
• Details of all payments to suppliers, Corporate and Democratic Core – Income
over £500, are published monthly: and expenditure that relates to corporate
www.richmond.gov.uk/council_payments_
policy making, member-based activities,
to_suppliers
functions of the individual designated the
• Details of senior officer pay and expenses are head of paid service (Chief Executive)
published each year: and costs associated with the information
www.richmond.gov.uk/officers_pay_and_
required for public accountability.
expenses
• The Council’s full Medium Term Financial Non-Distributed Costs – Past service costs
Strategy is available online at: relating to retirement benefits.
https://cabnet.richmond.gov.uk/documents/
s72243/3%20Appendix%20C%20MTFS1.pdf Levies – Annual charges the Council is
• The full Council Tax setting report is available on obliged to pay for services associated with
the public website at: the local area that are not directly provided
https://cabnet.richmond.gov.uk/ by the Council. These charges are commonly
documents/s72240/3%20Ctax%20 based upon the Council’s Tax Base
Cabinet%20Rep.pdf or population.
• All reports that are discussed at Council
meetings are available 1 week in advance at Reserves – Money set aside by the
the following web address: Council for use in future years.
www.richmond.gov.uk/calendar_of_
Tax Base – Number of Band D
meetings.htm
equivalent properties.
• Full details of budgets, by team and
expenditure type, are published each year: Council Tax Requirement – The amount
www.richmond.gov.uk/budget_books the Council plans to collect in Council Tax
• The current Community Plan is available during the year. Dividing the Council Tax
online at: http://www.richmond.gov.uk/ Requirement by the Tax Base gives the Band
community_plan_2016_2020.pdf D charge for the year.
Glossary
GLA Greater London Authority MOPAC Metropolitan Police
TfL Transport for London LFEPA London Fire Brigade
WLWA West London Waste Authority GLC Greater London Council
ILEA Inner London Education Authority LPFA London Pension Fund Authority
LRB London Residuary Body NNDR National Non-Domestic Rates
30 WWW.RICHMOND.GOV.UKPlease visit our website for more information on Council Tax, Benefits and Business Rates: Council Tax: www.richmond.gov.uk/council_tax Benefits: www.richmond.gov.uk/housing_benefits Business Rates: www.richmond.gov.uk/business_rates Or Telephone: Council Tax and Benefits: 020 8891 1411 Business Rates: 020 8891 7725 Customer Service Contact Details The Customer Service Team is responsible for providing information on all Council services, in person, by telephone, and by email. Tel: 020 8891 1411 (Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm) Online: www.richmond.gov.uk/council_contact_numbers In Person (by appointment only): Telephone the numbers above to make an appointment and then visit the Civic Centre, 44 York Street, Twickenham, TW1 3BZ Other Useful Council contact details: Adult Social Services Tel: 020 8891 7971 Email: adultsocialservices@richmond.gov.uk Children’s Services Tel: 020 8891 7969 (Children’s services for Richmond Website: www.achievingforchildren.org.uk Council is delivered by Achieving for Children, a Community Interest Company wholly owned by Richmond and Kingston Councils) Cultural Services Email: culturalservices@richmond.gov.uk Freedom Passes Tel: 020 8831 6312 Blue Badges Tel: 020 8831 6096 Email: accessibletransport@richmond.gov.uk Pest Control Tel: 020 8891 7800 Email: residentialeh@richmond.gov.uk Out of Hours Emergencies Tel: 020 8744 2442 31 WWW.RICHMOND.GOV.UK
Please contact us on 020 8831 6233 or minicom 020 8831 6001 if you need this in Braille, large print, audiotape, or another language. Other Languages BENGALI PUNJABI ARABIC ALBANIAN GUJARATI FARSI URDU To receive a booklet in large print please call 020 8891 1411 32 WWW.RICHMOND.GOV.UK
To receive a booklet in large print please call 020 8891 1411
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