MenuNorthumberland County Council compile the request for each household- made up from the amount needed for their services (approx. 93% of what you pay), that requested by the Police Authority (approx. 5%) and the amount (precept) for your Town or Parish Council (approx. 2%).
Each Local Council compiles its budget by December so the amount can be put into the N.C.C. total sent out in March for April 2012-2013. Every Council carefully considers what it needs to cover administration and functions as well as money to use for its own community. It is a rare Council which would only respond to consultations etc. and do nothing to help its own area. Your Council has always made some money available to help local groups/ causes/ projects. Most of these are small and would find it difficult to get grants from outside sources and those who can apply are greatly helped if they show they have local support.
Many are perplexed at how the local tax varies so widely from parish to parish. It would seem so straightforward. You have 100 households and you need £1000 so each gives you £10. But if you live in a larger household area such as Blyth or Ashington there could be 250 households, so each would give only £4 or you could charge them the same then you’d have £ £2,500! Or you could live in a small village of 25 households, then you’d need to give £40 each. Hence, Ashington’s precept in 2011/12 of £213,160 has band D of only £25.82 but Widdrington’s precept, with the much smaller sum of £5,500, has band D of £75.31!
So how does it happen that Amble’s precept is £98,650 and band D is £53.49 whilst Alnwick’s is £123,403 with band D only £44.68 and Hexham’s is £228,000 but band D only £51.61?
This is because households are ‘banded’ – lowest is band A, going up to highest at band H- the greater value households pay a higher amount of tax. (The comparison is usually for band D.) So if a parish has lots of higher band households who give more of the total, the band D will be lower than a parish which has few high banded properties. Amble has lots of band A and fewer high bands and that’s how your band D is higher than others in the area.
It is very difficult to decide now what will happen in the next 12- 18 months. There is always ongoing maintenance, development and replacements costs to consider but a wonderful project to improve the town for everyone could emerge in May and most people would expect Council to financially help! Hence although it seems we have a lot in the bank, every penny is allocated to a budget heading for that year or building up amounts for future work or projects.
Last year we were very aware of the poor financial climate and we looked long and hard at our costs making as many cutbacks as we could to keep the precept from rising and adding to everyone’s concerns. However we cannot do the same this year with extra responsibilities being given to us by N.C.C. We all have wonderful hopes, dreams and ideas but unfortunately we have to be realistic and understand we cannot always realise them due to the costs with very little external financial help currently available.