Council spending is financed by a mixture of central government grants, fees and charges for certain services and the collection of Council Tax. The Council provides over 800 services - from education through to highways and social care - all for an average cost of £23 each week to each household. The budget, agreed by Council on Tuesday 14 February 2012, sets out planned changes in spending and income.
The Council has approved another Council Tax freeze for 2012/13. The 2012/13 Bath & North East Somerset Council Tax bill for a Band D property will remain at £1201.85, no change from 2011/12.
Bath & North East Somerset Council also collects the tax required by the Police, Fire Authorities and Parishes, although it has no control over the amount set by these bodies, which makes up the total increase. The Police Authority is freezing their charge at £168.03 for a Band D property, the Fire Authority has agreed a 3.96% increase taking its Band D charge to £62.77 and the average parish charge per Band D property is £33.62 (an increase of 7.17%). The overall average total rise is 0.32%; this brings the overall average bill for a Band D property to £1,466.27.
Your Guide to local Council Spending and Council Tax 2012 - 2013 is available for viewing from the related documents section on the right hand side of this page.
The guide contains the following information:
· Council Tax information – Page 7
· What if your circumstances change? – Page 8
· Council Tax appeals – Page 9
· Your Council Tax bill explained – Page 10
· Living within your means - delivering value for money – Page 12
· Why spending has increased / decreased – Page 13
· Reserves & Council debt – Page 13
· Where each £1 of your Council Tax will go in 2012/13 – Page 15
· Summary of average Band D charge – Page 15
· Further information – Page 15
· Parish & Town Councils – Precepts – Page 16
· Directory of services – Page 18
· Avon & Somerset Police Authority – Page 25
· Avon Fire Authority – Page 29
· Environment Agency South West Region – Page 31