Information about Council Tax, Bands and Charges
All domestic properties in the country must pay Council Tax. This includes houses, flats, caravans and boats.
How is Council Tax Calculated?
Each property is placed in a band according to its value (based on the market value of the property in 1991).
Bands range from A to H, with A being the cheapest and H being the most expensive.
To find out the band of your property please visit the Valuations Office Agency website.
The table below shows the current property banding for Council Tax and then the amount of Council Tax each band has to pay depending on where you live in the City.
Council Tax 2020-21 - The amount you pay
Each domestic dwelling has been allocated to one of eight bands according to the open market value as of the 1st April 1991. The amount per band is as follows:
Changes in house prices mean that your homes current value may be different than it would have been in April 1991. But this does not mean that the Council Tax valuation is wrong and is, therefore, not likely to be grounds for appeal.
To find out how to appeal against your Council Tax band, please see our; How to Appeal Against Your Council Tax Band page
| Valuation Band |
Range of Values £ |
Council Tax 2020-21 Leigh-on-Sea Town Council Area £ |
Council Tax 2020-21 all other parts of the City £ |
Ratio to Band D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to and including 40,000 | 1,173.66 | 1,139.94 | 6/9 |
| B | 40,001-52,000 | 1,369.27 | 1,329.93 | 7/9 |
| C | 52,001-68,000 | 1,564.88 | 1,519.92 | 8/9 |
| D | 68,001-88,000 | 1,760.49 | 1,709.91 | 1 |
| E | 88,001-120,000 | 2,151.71 | 2,089.89 | 11/9 |
| F | 120,001-160,000 | 2,542.93 | 2,469.87 | 13/9 |
| G | 160.001-320,000 | 2,934.15 | 2,849.85 | 15/9 |
| H | More than 320,000 | 3,520.98 | 3,419.82 | 18/9 |
In total, we will get £330.6m in revenue for the year 2020/21. Of that amount £84.4m is from the Council Tax charge placed on residential properties in Southend for City Council services. The rest of the money comes from Government Grants, Business Rates and other grants, rents and incomes available to us.
This year there has been an increase of 3.99% in the Council Tax for Southend-on-Sea City Council, being a 1.99% general rise and a 2.0% Adult Social Care precept.
The following table shows the breakdown of our spending on services in 2020/2021.
|
EXP £M |
INC £M |
NET £M |
Portfolio | EXP £M | INC £M | NET £M |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 91.4 | (78.8) | 12.6 | Leader (Housing, Revenues and Benefits) | 83.3 | (69.7) | 13.6 |
| 19.0 | (16.1) | 2.9 | Deputy Leader (Assets, Highways and Transport) | 19.3 | (14.4) | 4.9 |
| 10.3 | (5.1) | 5.2 | Business, Culture and Tourism | 7.4 | (2.6) | 4.8 |
| 83.4 | (56.4) | 27.0 | Children and Learning | 90.5 | (59.8) | 30.7 |
| 10.1 | (5.4) | 4.7 | Community Safety and Customer Contact | 11.0 | (5.3) | 5.7 |
| 22.5 | (2.4) | 20.1 | Environment and Planning | 22.8 | (2.9) | 19.9 |
| 73.2 | (36.6) | 36.6 | Health and Adult Social Care | 76.2 | (37.3) | 38.9 |
| 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.6 | Levies | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.6 |
| 5.1 | 0.0 | 5.1 | Contingency | 6.2 | 0.0 | 6.2 |
| 12.8 | (1.2) | 11.6 | Financing Costs, Interest etc | 21.5 | (1.6) | 19.9 |
| 0.0 | (3.9) | (3.9) | Non Service Specific Grants | 0.0 | (6.6) | (6.6) |
| 3.2 | 0.0 | 3.2 | Earmarked Reserves and Capital Contributions | (8.2) | 0.0 | (8.2) |
| 331.6 | (205.9) | 125.7 | Total Southend-on-Sea City Council | 330.6 | (200.2) | 130.4 |
| (36.5) | Business Rates | (38.0) | ||||
| (5.9) | Revenue Support Grant | (6.0) | ||||
| (2.5) | Collection Fund Surplus | (2.0) | ||||
| 80.8 | SBC Unparished Council Tax Requirement | 84.4 | ||||
| 0.4 | Leigh Town Council Precept | 0.4 | ||||
| 81.2 | Total SBC Council Tax Requirement | 84.8 | ||||
| 11.3 | Essex Police and Crime Commissioner | 11.7 | ||||
| 4.2 | Essex Fire Authority | 4.3 | ||||
| 96.7 | Total Council Tax Requirement | 100.8 |
Levies
The City Council is required to contribute to the services provided in Southend-on-Sea by the following bodies.
|
2019-20 £000 |
2020-21 £000 |
|
|---|---|---|
| 200 | Essex Local Flood Defence Committee | 205 |
| 417 | Coroner's Court | 418 |
| 22 | Kent and Essex Sea Fisheries Committee | 22 |
| 639 | Total | 645 |
Flood status warnings and information booklets are available from the 24 hour Floodline service on 0845 988 1188.
Council Tax Spending 2020-21 at Council Tax Band D equivalent
| Band D equivalent | 2019-2020 | 2020-2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Expenditure | 6,116.24 | 6,093.29 |
| Gross Income | (3,965.64) | (3870.63) |
| Net Expenditure | 2,150.60 | 2,222.66 |
| Business Rates | (624.17) | (648.12) |
| Formula Grant | (101.41) | (103.08) |
| Use of Reserves | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Collection Fund Surplus | (42.80) | (34.08) |
| What you pay at Band D |
2019 - 20 £ |
2020 - 21 £ |
% Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southend-on-Sea City Council* | 1,3822.22 | 1,437.39 | 3.99% |
| Essex PFCC- Police and Community Safety | 192.96 | 198.63 | 2.94% |
| Essex PFCC - Fire and Rescue Authority | 72.45 | 73.89 | 1.99% |
| Other than Leigh-on-Sea Town Council area | 1,647.63 | 1,709.91 | 3.78% |
| Leigh-on-Sea Town Council | 47.70 | 50.58 | 6.04% |
| Leigh-on-Sea Town Council Area | 1,695.33 | 1,760.49 | 3.84% |
* This includes a 2.0% increase specifically for Adult Social Care.
Where the money comes from, how it is spent, and Capital Investment in Southend
How the money will be spent (£m)
| 2019-20 | 2020-21 | |
|---|---|---|
| Employees | 71.2 | 78.1 |
| Running Expenses | 225.8 | 210.1 |
| Schools Budget | 21.7 | 22.6 |
| Cost of Capital | 12.9 | 19.8 |
| Total | £331.6m | £330.6m |
Where the money comes from (£m)
| 2019-20 | 2020-21 | |
|---|---|---|
| Government Grants | 140.6 | 137.8 |
| Other Grants and Reimbursements | 25.1 | 21.9 |
| Rents | 3.8 | 3.9 |
| Other Income | 36.4 | 36.6 |
| Business Rates | 36.5 | 38.0 |
| Revenues Spt. Grant | 5.9 | 6.0 |
| Collection Fund | 2.5 | 2.0 |
| Council Tax | 80.8 | 84.4 |
| Total | £331.6m | £330.6m |
Capital investment in Southend
The Council has plans to spend a total of £108.6m on capital schemes for 2020-21.
| General Fund Services | £m |
|---|---|
| Highways and Infrastructure | 21.7 |
| Culture and Tourism | 17.5 |
| Social Care | 11.7 |
| Enterprise and Regeneration | 11.6 |
| Southend Pier | 7.9 |
| School Improvement | 5.6 |
| Investment in ICT | 4.2 |
| Improvements and Priority Works to Council Property | 3.4 |
| Community Safety | 1.7 |
| Energy Efficiency | 1.6 |
| Disabled Facilities Grants and Private Sector Housing | 1.4 |
| Community Infrastructure Levy/S106/S38 | 0.1 |
| Total | 88.4 |
| Council Housing | £m |
|---|---|
| Construction of New Housing on HRA Land | 7.5 |
| Decent Homes Improvements | 5.9 |
| Affordable Housing Aquisitions Programme | 5.0 |
| Aquisitions of Leaseholds | 0.8 |
| Disabled Adaptions | 0.7 |
| Sheltered Housing Remodelling | 0.3 |
| Total | 20.2 |
Calculation for the percentage increase for the 2020/21 Council Tax
Local Government still faces huge challenges in terms of uncertainty over future funding levels and continuing increases in demand and local expectations - Southend-on-Sea is no exception but the Council is determined to do everything it can to plan effectively for the future and invest in priorities that make a real positive difference to local residents, businesses and visitors.
We continue to work to make lives better for local people and we are trying to support improvements in the health and economic wellbeing of everyone. Southend 2050 is the Boroughs ambition for the future. It was developed following extensive conversations with those that live, work, visit, do business and study in Southend-on-Sea and by delivering that ambition we will build a sustainable financial future together.
Our financial plans for 2020-21 are aimed at delivering these key priorities and to provide the best possible value for money services to our local residents, businesses and visitors.
This means that will be investment in the key areas that local people have said are important to them with the largest proportion of your council tax going towards looking after vulnerable adults, children and families. There will also be more investment into areas such as community safety, fixing more roads and pavements, providing more street lighting and improving zebra crossings. Housing is also a top priority with investment into creating more affordable housing, along with more school places, enhancing our local library offer, as well as improving our environment by planting more trees, tackling climate change and maintaining our seafront and iconic Southend Pier.
We will also create local opportunity and prosperity through major projects such as the Airport Business Park Southend and Better Queensway which is the largest housing and regeneration project the council has undertaken since the 1960s.
To support the delivery of these plans, the Council Tax for Southend-on-Sea has been increased by 3.99% which includes 1.99% for general use and 2.0% to support Adult Social; Care. In addition, there are increases added from Essex Police, Essex Fire and Rescue Service and Leigh Town Council (where applicable). Overall your Council Tax level still remains as one of the lowest in the country.
Government statement concerning adult social care funding
The Secretary of State for the Housing Communities and Local Government has made an offer to adult social care authorities (Adult social care authorities are local authorities which have functions under Part 1 of the Care Act 2014, namely county councils, London city councils, the Common Council of the City of London and the Council of the Isles of Sicily).
The offer for the financial year 2020-21 is the option of an adult social care authority being able to increase their council tax by a further 2% on top of the core principle, without holding a referendum, to assist the authority in meeting expenditure on adult social care.
Calculation for the percentage increase for the 2020-21 Council Tax
The council has increased the Council Tax charge for 2020-21 by 3.99%.
This is an increase of 1.99% on the standard Council charge and a 2.0% increase on the Adult Social Care (ASC) Precept charge which is used to help fund the rising cost of social care services for older and disabled adults.
How we calculate the increases
The standard Council charge and the ASC Precept make up the ‘Total Council Charge’. It is the overall charge that is used to work out both increases for 2020-21.
The Total Council Charge for 2019-20 was £1,382.22 for a Band D property.
The £1,382.22 was made up of the standard Council charge for 2019-20 of £1,284.09 plus an ASC Precept of £98.13.
Standard Council charge increase – 1.99%
Firstly, we multiply the Total Council Charge for 2019-20 by 1.99%.
£1382.22x 1.99% = £27.53
We then add that increase to the 2019-20 standard Council charge.
£1382.22 + £27.53 = £1311.62
ASC Precept charge increase – 2.0%
Firstly, we multiply the Total Council Tax Charge for 2019-20 by 2.0%
£1,382.22 x 2.0% =n £27.64
We then add that increase to the 2019-20 ASC Precept charge
£98.13 + £27.64 = £125.77
Total Council charge for 2020-21
The Total Council charge for 2020-21 is the new standard council charge (£1,311.62) plus the new ASC Precept charge (£125.77) which equals £1,437.39.
| Band A £ |
Band B £ |
Band C £ |
Band D £ |
Band E £ |
Band F £ |
Band G £ |
Band H £ |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Council Charge 2019-20 | 856.06 | 998.74 | 1,141.41 | 1,284.09 | 1,569.44 | 1,854.80 | 2140.15 | 2,568.18 |
| Adult Social Care Precept (ASC) 2019-20 | 65.42 | 76.32 | 87.23 | 98.13 | 119.94 | 141.74 | 163.55 | 196.26 |
| Total Council Charge 2019-20 | 921.48 | 1,075.06 | 1,228.64 | 1,382.22 | 1,689.38 | 1,996.54 | 2,303.70 | 2,764.44 |
| Increase in Standard Council for 2020-21 (2019-20) Council Charge x 1.99%) | 18.34 | 21.39 | 24.46 | 27.53 | 33.63 | 39.73 | 45.85 | 55.02 |
| 2020-21 Standard Council Charge on Bill (2019-20 Standard Council Charge+ Calculated increase) | 874.40 | 1,020.13 | 1,165.87 | 1,311.62 | 1,603.07 | 1,894.53 | 2,186.00 | 2,623.20 |
| Increase in ASC for 2020-21 (2019-20) Council Charge x 2.0%) | 18.44 | 21.52 | 24.58 | 27.64 | 33.80 | 39.96 | 46.10 | 55.32 |
| 2020-21 ASC Cgange on Bill (2019-20 ASC + Calculated increase) | 83.86 | 97.84 | 111.81 | 125.77 | 153.74 | 181.70 | 209.65 | 251.58 |
| Total Council Charge 2020-21 | 958.26 | 1,117.97 | 1,277.68 | 1,437.39 | 1,756.81 | 2,076.23 | 2,395.65 | 2,874.78 |
Leigh-on-Sea Town Council - Council Tax 2020-21
Leigh Town Council for the past 3 years were able to keep the annual rise in the tax for residents at less than 3% per annum. In 2020-21 it is essential that we carry out necessary emergency repairs to the community centre to ensure it meets current regulations to provide a safe environment for the thousands of our residents and visitors from all over the Southend-on-Sea City who enjoy its facilities. This has necessitated a slightly higher increase to the tax of 6%, the equivalent of £2.88 for a Band D tax payer.
The council continues to remain totally committed in helping to provide services to meet the needs and aspirations of our community and the 2020-21 budget will provide the following:
What is your money spent on?
- help, support and provide information for our residents on a huge range of issues
- our role as statutory consultee on planning, highways and licensing issues to help influence the shape of the future of Leigh
- working with volunteers and partners and supporting community groups
- helping to protect the environment and heritage of Leigh
- an extension to the skate park to accommodate all wheel-based sports
- steps to implement a Special Constables programme for the Leigh Town Council area
- funding a school crossing patrol and Leigh Old Town first aid post
- providing and managing community facilities in particular the Community Centre, Skate Park, Strand Wharf, Bell Wharf beach paddling pool and 17 acres of allotment space
- community engagement with our residents
- a community news magazine twice a year and a newsletter in the local press twice a year
- regular and new town events such as Leigh Lights and VE Day 75 afternoon tea
- supporting the arts in Leigh with our Art Wall exhibitions and Artist in Residency Programme
- christmas lights, street decorations and street hanging baskets of flowers
- promotion of initiatives and incentives to help local businesses
- representing our residents to other authorities
- a Council run monthly Farmers Market
- provision of two weekly youth clubs and a youth forum
- a Council run community centre children’s holiday programme
- a community trips scheme supporting elderly residents and providing social contact including a social club every two weeks to combat isolation
- a chatty bench initiative to help those that feel socially isolated
- be a local employer of 13 staff to facilitate and manage all Council services including apprentices
- be a facilitator of a community café which is a local employer of 8 staff
- continue with repairs and improvements at the community centre
- host the Annual Town Community Meeting
Leigh-on-Sea Town Council expenditure plans 2020-21
| £ | |
|---|---|
| Information and Support Services | 169.550 |
| Finance and Governance | 35,450 |
| Community Facilities | 205,400 |
| Health and Wellbeing programme | 57,100 |
| Community programmes | 10,500 |
| Allotments | 31,850 |
| Environment facilities/services | 21,050 |
| Planning and Licensing | 9,200 |
| Capital and Strategic Projects | 90.000 |
| Increase to General Reserves | 5,392 |
| Finance and Governance | (2,100) |
| Community Facilities | (152,000) |
| Health and Wellbeing programme | (13,000) |
| Allotments Income | (19,000) |
| Environmental facilities/services | (2,000) |
| Total Precept 2020-21 | 447,392 |
Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex Council Tax precepts
In the budget for 2020/21, Roger Hirst, the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, recommended that the policing element of Council Tax should rise by 2.94 per cent to cover inflationary costs. This is the equivalent to an increase of £5.67 a year from £192.96 to £198.63 for a Band D property. In terms of Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, Mr Hirst is proposed that its element of the Council Tax precept should rise by 1.99 per cent, the equivalent of an increase of £1.44 a year from, £72.45 to £73.89 for a Band D property.
The proposals were discussed and agreed at the Police, Fire and Crime Panel meeting which took place on Thursday, February 6 at County Hall in Chelmsford.