By Andrew Topping, Local Democracy Reporter
Local authorities across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire are beginning to set out their plans to either freeze or increase council tax from April.
Some councils have already decided to increase bills while others are keeping them frozen amidst the backdrop of the cost of living crisis.
But how are council tax bills split?
Each household in the city and county pays a precept to both the Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner and the Nottinghamshire Fire Authority.
These decide the budgets for Nottinghamshire Police and Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, making up roughly 15 per cent of all council tax bills.
The remaining 85 per cent of bills depends on whether you live in Nottingham or Nottinghamshire.
In the city, Nottingham City Council takes the remaining 85 per cent in full because it is a single, unitary council.
In the county, this split between Nottinghamshire County Council and whichever district or borough council is in a particular area.
The county council takes roughly 75 per cent of all bills, with district and borough councils taking slightly less than 10 per cent in total.
All increases come into effect from April 1, 2023, and affect all taxpaying homes, though some authorities have reduction schemes in place to mitigate the impact of the increases.
Below is a breakdown of the plans for each authority in the city and county, starting off with the police and the fire service which will affect all residents.
The figures include tax totals and the full increases for Bands A-D – the most common households across the city and county.
Nottinghamshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner
Police and Crime Commissioner Caroline Henry (Con) is increasing bills by £14.94 for Band D homes, taking her total Band D precept up to £269.19 for the year.
For Band A homes, which make up most of all homes in the city and county, the increase is £9.96 per year, meaning £179.46 will be paid to the police in total.
A Band B increase of £11.62 takes the total paid to £209.37 for the year, while Band C precepts will increase by £13.28 to £239.28.
Nottinghamshire Fire Authority
The Nottinghamshire Fire Authority, which sets budgets for the fire service, will increase bills by £5 for all homes in the city and county.
This increase is regardless of house banding, meaning all houses would be affected by the same rise.
It will take the total paid for Band D homes up to £89.57 for the year.
The annual payment for Band A will rise to £61.38 for the year, with Band B and C to pay £70.78 and £80.17 per year respectively under the increase.
Nottingham City Council
Labour-run Nottingham City Council has approved a maximum 4.99 per cent increase from April.
For Band D homes, this works out at £97.57 per year. It takes the total paid for the city council’s portion of bills up to £2,052.89 for Band D properties.
For Band A homes, Nottingham City Council’s element of the bill includes a £65.04 annual rise to £1,368.59.
Band B bills paid to fund the city council will rise by £75.89 to £1,596.69.
And Band C bills for the city council’s precept will increase by £86.73 to £1,824.79.
When factoring in the emergency service taxes alongside the city council’s portion of bills, total precepts for Bands A-D are:
- Band A: £1,609.43 (total increase of £80)
- Band B: £1,876.84 (total increase of £92.51)
- Band C: £2,145.24 (total increase of £105.01)
- Band D: £2,411.65 (total increase of £117.51)
Nottinghamshire County Council
Conservative-run Nottinghamshire County Council approved its 4.84 per cent tax hike on February 9, affecting all homes in the wider county.
The increase will mean Band D homes are paying the council £79.57 more from April, taking the authority’s Band D precept up to £1,723.66.
Band A homes will pay the county council £53.05 more for the year, or £1,149.11 in total.
Band B homes will pay £61.88 more to the county council from April, taking the authority’s total Band B precept up to £1,340.61.
And Band C homes’ annual precept to the authority will increase by £70.73 to £1,532.14.
These figures do not include the sums for the police, the fire service or individual district and borough councils.
These are outlined below alongside the plans for each lower-tier authority.
Ashfield District Council
The Ashfield Independent-led council has approved a tax rise of 2.94 per cent – marginally below the maximum 2.99 per cent allowed for district councils.
For Band D homes, the increase works out at £5.75 more being paid to the authority and takes the total paid for the year up to £201.21.
Band A homes will pay the council £3.83 more from April, taking the total paid to the district council up to £134.14 for the year.
The district council’s increase will cause Band B bills paid to the authority to increase by £4.72 and take the total precept for the authority up to £156.50.
And Band C homes will see their Ashfield Council precept rise by £5.11 to £178.85 in total.
When factoring in the emergency service increases, Ashfield Council’s rise and the increase at County Hall, total bills will be:
- Band A: £1,523.15 (total increase of £71.84)
- Band B: £1,777.27 (total increase of £83.22)
- Band C: £2,030.44 (total increase of £94.12)
- Band D: £2,283.63 (total increase of £105.26)
Bassetlaw District Council
Labour-run Bassetlaw will take the maximum 2.99 per cent increase, working out at £5.64 more for Band D homes.
It would mean Band D homes paying the authority £194.12 in total from April.
The Bassetlaw increase works out at £3.76 on a Band A, taking the total Band A precept for the authority up to £129.41.
For Band B homes, Bassetlaw District Council’s portion of the bill will rise by £4.39 to £151.01.
And Band C will pay the Labour-run authority £5.01 more from April, totalling £172.55 for the year.
When factoring in the emergency services, Bassetlaw District Council’s rise and the county council’s increase, total bills will be:
- Band A: £1,518.42 (total increase of £71.77)
- Band B: £1,771.78 (total increase of £82.89)
- Band C: £2,024.14 (total increase of £94.02)
- Band D: £2,276.54 (total increase of £105.15)
Broxtowe Borough Council
The Labour/Lib Dem coalition-controlled authority will increase of 2.94 per cent – marginally below the maximum and the same percentage as neighbouring Ashfield.
For Band D homes, this works out at £5.21 more for the year and takes the total paid to the council up to £182.06.
For Band A homes, the Broxtowe increase works out at £3.47 for the year and takes the total paid to the authority up to £121.37.
Band B Broxtowe residents will pay £4.05 more to the borough council from April, with the total precept for the authority increasing to £141.60.
And Band C residents will pay the borough council £161.83 in total when their bills increase by £4.63 from April.
When factoring in the emergency services, Broxtowe Borough Council’s rise and the county council’s increase, total bills will be:
- Band A: £1,460.49 (total increase of £71.48)
- Band B: £1,762.37 (total increase of £82.55)
- Band C: £2,013.42 (total increase of £93.64)
- Band D: £2,264.18 (total increase of £104.72)
Gedling Borough Council
Labour-run Gedling Borough Council will take slightly below the maximum amount at 2.98 per cent, equating to £5.31 for Band D homes.
This would take the total paid to the borough council up to £183.38 for Band D homes.
The council’s rise works out at £3.54 more for Band A homes, taking the total paid to the authority up to £122.25.
For Band B homes, the Gedling increase is £4.13, taking the total paid to the authority up to £142.63.
And Band C homes will pay Gedling Borough Council £4.72 more from April, taking their total bill to the authority up to £163.00.
When factoring in the emergency services, Gedling Borough Council’s rise and the county council’s increase, total bills will be:
- Band A: £1,511.26 (total increase of £71.55)
- Band B: £1,763.40 (total increase of £82.63)
- Band C: £2,014.59 (total increase of £93.73)
- Band D: £2,265.80 (total increase of £104.82)
Mansfield District Council
Mansfield District Council has frozen its council tax bills for 2023/24, meaning residents in the district will pay the authority nothing more from April.
It means Band A precepts paid to the Labour-run authority will remain at £129.81 for the year, while Band B will continue to pay the council £151.45 for the year.
Band C homes will also continue to pay £173.08, with Band D to continue paying the authority £194.72 per year.
When factoring in the emergency services, Mansfield District Council’s tax freeze and the county council’s increase, total bills will be:
- Band A: £1,519.76 (total increase of £68.01)
- Band B: £1,772.21 (total increase of £78.50)
- Band C: £2,024.67 (total increase of £89.01)
- Band D: £2,277.14 (total increase of £99.51)
Newark and Sherwood District Council
Conservative-led Newark and Sherwood will increase bills by 1.94 per cent, affecting Band D homes with a rise of £3.60 per year.
Band A homes would pay the district council £2.40 more from April, or £126.13 in total if the authority’s increase is approved.
The district council will also ask for £2.80 more from Band B homes, taking its total Band B precept up to £147.16 for the year.
And Band C homes will be asked to pay the district council £3.20 more from April, with the total Band C district council bill increasing to £168.18.
When factoring in the emergency services, Newark and Sherwood District Council’s rise and the county council’s increase, total bills will be:
- Band A: £1,515.14 (total increase of £70.14)
- Band B: £1,767.93 (total increase of £81.30)
- Band C: £2,019.77 (total increase of £92.21)
- Band D: £2,271.61 (total increase of £103.11)
Rushcliffe Borough Council
Tory-run Rushcliffe Borough Council will increase Band D bills by £3.02, taking the total paid to the authority up to £153.95 for Band D homes.
For Band A homes, the Rushcliffe element of bills will rise by £2.01 to £102.63 from April 1.
Band B homes will pay Rushcliffe Borough Council £119.74 from April after a £2.35 annual rise is enforced.
And Band C homes will pay the borough council £2.68 more from April, taking their total annual precept up to £136.84.
When factoring in the emergency services, Rushcliffe Borough Council’s rise and the county council’s increase, total bills will be:
- Band A: £1,491.64 (total increase of £70.02)
- Band B: £1,740.51 (total increase of £80.85)
- Band C: £1,988.43 (total increase of £91.96)
- Band D: £2,236.37 (total increase of £102.53)
However, the council has committed to ensuring no Band A-D home being used as a primary house for its occupant will feel the impact of its precept rise.
If residents in Bands A-D use their home as their main residence, the borough council precept increase will not be enforced and this increase will instead be transferred into their bank accounts.
When factoring in this discount, Band A-D rates in Rushcliffe would be:
- Band A: £1,489.63 (total increase of £68.01)
- Band B: £1,738.16 (total increase of £78.50)
- Band C: £1,985.75 (total increase of £89.01)
- Band D: £2,233.35 (total increase of £99.51)
