Agenda item

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1       Relevant Background Information

1.1    Members will recall that the following process has been agreed for the setting of the district rate and agreeing the estimates for 2014/15.

At the meeting of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee on 10 January 2014, Members approved the following recommendations in relation to the 2014/15 revenue estimates, which would result in a zero increase in the district rate for 2014/15:

1.     That the total amount to be raised through the district rate for 2014/15 of £129,716,358

2.     That the revenue estimates for the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee and the cash limit for the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of £32,563,620 for 2014/15.

3.     That the cash limit for the Town Planning Committee of £3,750 for 2014/15.

4.     That the following departmental cash limits should apply for 2014/15:

·        Health and Environmental Services Department £39,497,245

·        Parks and Leisure Department £23,971,115

·        Development Department £19,144,021

5.     That the general reserves will not be enhanced through the district rate in 2014/15

6.     A central budget of £870,000 to make provision for a 1% pay rise. This budget will be retained centrally under the control of the Director of Finance and Resources and only released to departments on the basis of a nationally agreed pay award.

1.3    The purpose of this report is to consider the district rate increase for 2014/15, including the domestic and non-domestic rate increase, following the presentation of the detailed revenue estimates reports and cash limits to the to the standing committees.

2       Key Issues

2.1    The table below summarises the revenue estimates for Belfast City Council for 2014/15 based on a Zero District Rate increase.

         Standing Committees

2.2    Detailed reports on the revenue estimates and departmental cash limits were considered and agreed by each Standing committee during the period 10 - 16 January 2014.

         Key Messages

2.3    A summary of the key messages and lines to take in relation to the setting of the district rate for 2014/15 has been prepared by the Head of Corporate Communications and included as Appendix A to this report.

         Impact on Ratepayer

2.4    A rates bill in Belfast is made up of 56% Regional Rate and 44% District Rate. The Regional Rate, subject to Executive approval, is due to increase by 2.7%. A zero rate set by the council will mean that a ratepayer’s total bill will increase by 1.49%. The table included in Appendix B illustrates the monetary impact on average property types.

3       Recommendations

3.1    Members are requested to note the contents of the report and agree:

·     That the increase in the district rate for 2014/15 should be zero, based on an Estimated Penny Product of £4,800,110 which means that the domestic rate for 2014/15 is recommended to be 0.3094p and the non domestic rate to be 27.0236p.”

            The Committee adopted the recommendation.