Agenda item

The Council considered a report, introduced by the Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones, which set out how the Council Tax was calculated and made recommendations regarding Doncaster Council’s Council Tax requirement for 2019/20.

It was proposed that Doncaster Council’s element of the Band D Council Tax charge be increased by 4.99% for 2019/20 to £1,351.43. The proposals included an increase in the core Council Tax of 2.99%, as set out in the 2019/20 Revenue Budget report and an increase in the Adult Social Care precept of 2%.

The Mayor reported that just under 88% of domestic properties in Doncaster fell into Bands A, B and C with 59% falling in Band A. The proposals equated to a charge of £900.95for a Band A property, which was an increase of £0.82 per week.

The report included an increase in Council Taxes ofthe Joint Authorities (South Yorkshire Police and South Yorkshire Fire), which represented an overall increase of 5.91% for Doncaster residents.

Following the presentation of the report, Members were afforded the opportunity to comment on the report. 

Councillor Neil Gethin made reference to previousassurances given that the Hillsborough tragedy would be funded by Central Government and sought further clarification from the Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones, whether this has had a direct impact on the increase in the Council Tax precept for Policingbeing levied on the residents of Doncaster by the Police and Crime Commissioner.  Councillor Gethin also asked the Mayor to provide further information about the current review of Policing in South Yorkshire and the role undertaken by PSCOs.

In response, the Mayor stated that she was unable to confirm what level of funding had been provided by Central Government and therefore undertook to provide a written response in respect of both issues raised by Councillor Gethin.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 21.4, a recorded vote was taken on the recommendations contained within the report, which was declared as follows:-

For - 42  

The Chair of Council, Councillor Majid Khan, the Vice-Chair of Council, Councillor Linda Curran, the Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones, the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Glyn Jones, and Councillors Duncan Anderson, Lani-Mae Ball, Nigel Ball, Iris Beech, Joe Blackham, Rachael Blake, Nigel Cannings, Phil Cole, Mick Cooper, Susan Durant, Neil Gethin, John Gilliver, Pat Haith, John Healy, Rachel Hodson, Charlie Hogarth, Mark Houlbrook, David Hughes, Eva Hughes, Ken Keegan, Jane Kidd, Tosh McDonald, Chris McGuinness, Sue McGuinness, Bill Mordue, John Mounsey, David Nevett, Jane Nightingale, Ian Pearson, Tina Reid, Andrea Robinson, Kevin Rodgers, Dave Shaw, Derek Smith, Frank Tyas, Austen White, Sue Wilkinson and Paul Wray.

Against - 7

Councillors Nick Allen, Jane Cox, Steve Cox, Martin Greenhalgh, R. Allan Jones, Cynthia Ransome and Jonathan Wood.

Abstain - 0

On being put to the meeting, the recommendation contained within the report was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED that the Council approve a Band D Council Tax for 2019/20 of £1,351.43 for Doncaster Council services and pass the appropriate Statutory Resolutions, as set out and recommended at Appendix B of the report, which incorporate the Council Taxes of the Joint Authorities and which, taken together with Doncaster's 4.99% increase, represent a 5.91% increase from the 2018/19 Council Tax for Doncaster residents.