All Decisions

The Council is required to pass a formal resolution determining the Council Tax Base for 2020-21.

To formally determine not to revise the reduction of Council Tax Discounts.

Cabinet agreed the following:

1.  The District's Council Tax Base for 2020-21 as 44,546.40 and the tax base for the towns and parishes in the Council’s administrative area, as set out in the table at Annex 2 (to the cabinet report);

2.  The increase in premium for all properties that have been left empty and substantially unfurnished for five years but less than 10 years. This will take effect from April 2020 and will see the premium increased from 100% to 200%;

3.  Not to revise the Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2020-21.

Cabinet considered the report on setting of the Council Tax base for the coming year. The Tax base is defined mainly in terms of the number of Band D equivalent properties but is then adjusted to reflect various discounts. The calculation of the tax base had been undertaken in accordance with the current regulations; the Local Authority Calculation of Tax Base Regulations 2012.

The main change to note this year other than the calculation itself was the proposal to approve a council tax premium increase for qualifying long term empty properties. New regulations recently passed allowed councils to increase the long term empty property premium for qualifying properties, from an additional 50% to an additional 100% of Council Tax payable. The results of a public consultation on the council tax conducted by the Council indicated that two thirds of respondents were in favour of this increase.

Councillor Gregory proposed, Councillor Savage seconded and Members agreed the following:

1)  The District's Council Tax Base for 2019-20 as 43,763.27 and the tax base for the towns and parishes in the Council’s administrative area, as set out in the table at Annex 2 (to the Cabinet report);

2)  The increase premium for all properties that have been left empty and substantially unfurnished for two years or more. This will take effect from April 2019 and will see the premium increase from 50% to 100% extra on the Council Tax payable;

3)  Not to revise the Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2019-20.

This parking scheme relates to Westbrook, Westgate and Minnis Bay. The scheme was to introduce pay and display for on street parking.  This went out to public consultation in May 2018.

The proposal received a lot of objections. A parking survey was then completed during Summer 2018 to look at the scheme in more detail.

A report went to Joint Transportation Board (JTB) in September 2019 where a number of objections were discussed regarding the proposals.

This parking scheme relates to Westbrook, Westgate and Minnis Bay. The scheme was to introduce pay and display for on street parking.  Following objections received, and review by the Joint Transportation Board, the decision has been made not to proceed with pay and display schemes in these locations at this time.

A resident parking scheme with shared time limited bays  in Royal Crescent, Westbrook will continue to be taken forward.

Over the last six months, especially considering the impact of the global pandemic there has been a significant amount of change and as part of this the Council is reviewing how it delivers services in the future and how it can maximise the benefits of revenue opportunity from existing assets, which include some potential sites previously identified for use.

There has been significant interest from stakeholders and local residents regarding a temporary tolerated site including commentary on suitability of sites, level of need and other locations.  In order to capture this information and understand the views of all those with an interest in temporary stopping sites a robust engagement process is required.

The identification of possible temporary stopping sites has previously been restricted to land owned by Thanet District Council, a change in process has the potential to widen the scope for other sites to be identified.

The Local Plan has recently been adopted and is now subject to a review process. Part of this process has a defined consultation and the ability to place a general call to landowners to put forward sites for specific use.

To undertake further work to assess the feasibility and cost implications of three temporary tolerated sites in the District, at Potten Street, St Nicholas at Wade, Tivoli Brooks and Ramsgate Port, with a view to using them on a rotational basis.