Council Tax Charges - Enquiries

Council Tax Information

For queries concerning your charges please refer your enquiries to the relevant charging authority on the following telephone numbers:

Nottinghamshire County Council (Customer Voice) 0300 500 8080
Nottinghamshire Police & Crime Commissioner 101
Combined Fire Authority 0115 967 0880
Rushcliffe Borough Council (Customer Services) 0115 981 9911
Parish Charges - please contact individual Parish Clerk

Valuation

The valuation of domestic property for Council Tax purposes is not carried out by Rushcliffe Borough Council. The value of your home has been assessed by the Valuation Office Agency, which is part of HM Revenue & Customs. Your home has been placed in one of eight valuation bands based on its estimated sale price on 1st April 1991. The fact that homes may be worth more today does not mean they have been put into the wrong band – the banding date was chosen in order to establish how much homes were worth relative to similar properties in the area and the bandings are not affected by any general movement in house prices. You can appeal if you think your house has been put in the wrong valuation band, but the rules are quite strict. No appeals will be allowed if they are solely on the grounds of the general movement in house prices.

Appeals may only be lodged if:

there has been a material increase or reduction in the dwelling’s value resulting from a physical change to the building or;
you start or stop using part of the building to carry out a business or the balance between domestic and commercial use changes or;
where you become the taxpayer in respect of that dwelling and less than six months have elapsed from that date.

Full details on how to appeal are available on the Valuation Office Agency website.

Council Tax Bandings

Band A Property worth up to £40,000
Band B over £40,000 and up to £52,000
Band C over £52,000 and up to £68,000
Band D over £68,000 and up to £88,000
Band E over £88,000 and up to £120,000
Band F over £120,000 and up to £160,000
Band G over £160,000 and up to £320,000
Band H over £320,000

Discounts Allowable

Council Tax is made up of two equal parts. One part relates to the property and the other to the people who live there. The full Council Tax bill assumes that there are two adults living in a dwelling, so if there is only one adult resident in the property you may qualify for a 25% discount.

Certain groups of people are not counted when looking at the number of adults resident in a dwelling for Council Tax purposes, provided they meet certain conditions. These include:-

Full-time students, student nurses, apprentices and Youth Training trainees
People who are being looked after in care homes
People who are severely mentally impaired
People staying in certain hostels or night shelters
18 and 19 year olds who are at, or have just left school
Care workers working for low pay, usually for Charities
People caring for someone with a disability who is not a spouse, partner, or child under 18
Members of visiting overseas forces and certain international institutions
Members of religious communities
People in prison (except those in prison for non-payment of Council Tax or a fine)
Diplomats and members of international organisations headquartered in the U.K.

If you fall into one of these categories, then please contact our Customer Service Centre on 0115 981 9911 to check if you are entitled to a discount.

Empty properties

The Council has discretionary powers to vary the level of discounts awarded and has used these powers as follows:

Properties that are unoccupied and unfurnished for less than 4 weeks are entitled to a 50% discount.
Properties that are unoccupied and unfurnished for more than 4 weeks are not entitled to a discount and council tax is charged at the full rate.
After one year, a 100% premium will be applied, rising to 200% after 5 years. For properties that have been empty for over 10 years, the premium is 300%.

Council Tax is not payable on some dwellings

The Government has decided that Council Tax will not be payable on some properties (including those occupied only by students). Below are the main descriptions of exempt properties:

Properties owned by charities which have been empty for less than 6 months.
Properties left empty by someone going to prison.
Properties left empty by someone going to live in a hospital, care home or a nursing home.
Properties left empty after someone has died and probate or letters of administration have not been granted. The exemption lasts until probate is granted and for 6 months after this whilst unoccupied.
Empty properties which the law says cannot be occupied.
Empty properties waiting to be used by a Minister of Religion.
Properties left empty by someone who has moved to receive care, other than to a hospital, care home or nursing home. For example, a disabled person moving to live with a caring relative.
Properties left empty by someone who has moved to care for another person.
Empty properties owned and last used by a student (exemption lasts as long as the person who would normally pay the Council Tax is a full-time student).
Empty properties repossessed because of non -payment of a mortgage.
Student Halls of Residence.
Properties in which only full-time students live.
Properties used by the Armed Forces.
Properties for which a member of a visiting force is liable.
Properties for which a trustee of a bankrupt person is liable.
A caravan pitch or boat mooring that is not used.
Properties where only people under 18 live.
Empty properties which are part of a bigger building and cannot be let separately because of planning rules. For example, this could apply to empty granny flats.
Properties where only people who are severely mentally impaired live.
Properties in which a diplomat or member of an international organisation headquartered in the UK live (as defined in regulations).
Annexe/self-contained properties occupied by elderly or disabled relatives.

If you are receiving an exemption, you must tell the Council about any changes which may affect the exemption within 21 days of the change. More advice on exempt properties, including discretionary reductions, is available from our Customer Service Centre.

Other discounts

There are the following discounts also available:

Occupied annexe discounts
Certain young people who have been in local authority care
Discretionary discounts following financial hardship
Tied accommodation

If you think any are applicable to you please contact us for further details.

If you are disabled

You may qualify for a one band reduction in your Council Tax banding if you, or someone who lives with you, is substantially and permanently disabled. Properties in Band A will qualify for a reduction equal to 1/9th of a Band D property charge. To qualify, the disabled person must be living in the dwelling for which the reduction is being sought and there must be:-

a room which is predominantly used by and required for meeting the needs of the disabled person; or
a second bathroom or kitchen adapted for the needs of the disabled person; or
a need to use a wheelchair indoors by the disabled person.

Help & Advice

If you need any help or advice regarding your Council Tax, then please call our Customer Service Centre on 0115 981 9911 or visit the Council Tax webpages.

Please visit here for our contact details and opening times.

For information about paying your Council Tax, please see the back of your bill or visit the Pay Council Tax webpage.

Business Rates

For information regarding Business Rates, please visit the Business Rates webpages.

Complaints

If you have a problem or complaint about any of the services provided by Rushcliffe Borough Council, please visit the complaints webpage.

Council Tax Recovery

If you have arrears, then please contact us to discuss this. Click here to access our recovery policy.

Fraud Prevention

To help prevent fraudulent claims for Council Tax discounts, Council Tax data will be shared with the Audit Commission and other organisations for comparison with their records.

Help us to help you

You are required to inform the Council, in writing, within 21 days, of any changes in your circumstances which may affect your entitlement to any discounts, exemptions and disabled reductions. Failure to do so may result in a penalty of £70 being imposed in the first instance and £280 for each subsequent failure.

Any notification should be addressed to Revenues Services, Rushcliffe Borough Council, Rushcliffe Arena, Rugby Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham NG2 7YG.

Alternatively, if you are unsure of the effect of a change, contact us to discuss what has changed.

What Do You Get For Your Money?

Rushcliffe Borough Council provides a wide range of services for the Rushcliffe community costing a household living in a band D property £3.04 per week. In fact due to the types of property within Rushcliffe more than 55% of households will pay less.

The Borough Council administers the following services.

Protecting the environment and the community through:

Environmental Initiatives
Pollution Control including air quality, contaminated land and noise
Environmental crime including fly tipping and litter
Health and safety
Food safety / Hygiene
Pest Control & Dog Warden
Control of Development
Consideration of Planning Applications
Emergency Planning
Collection and recycling of refuse
Street cleaning
Licensing including taxis, alcohol and gambling
Crime prevention and Community Safety including anti-social behaviour
Community areas and leisure facilities including
Recreation Facilities - which consist of 5 Leisure Centres, Edwalton Municipal Golf Course, Rushcliffe Country Park and maintenance of open spaces
Promoting special events
Electoral Registration and Elections
Responsibility for housing
Improving housing
Homelessness
Collection of income - Council Tax, Business Rates and invoices for chargeable services
Administration of Housing Benefits and Council Tax Support
Crematorium

Rushcliffe Borough Council Expenditure & Income 2024-25

TABLE

The net service expenditure is £14.76m, the chart below illustrates where this money will come from in 2024-25.

Where the Money Comes From

Council Tax Income - 56.5% [£8,346,700 (£7,952,900 2023/24)]
Localised Business Rates - 39.3% £5,495,300 (£4,398,900 2023/24)
Other Grant Income - 4.2% £615,800 (£639,600 2023/24)

Nottinghamshire Business Rates Pool Surplus £300,000

The amount to be raised from the Council Tax represents a band “D” rate of £157.88 for Borough Council Services and an average Band “D” tax rate of £235.14 this is from including Parish Precepts and Special Expenses

Special Expenses

In West Bridgford there is no Parish Council. Local recreation and community facilities that are provided by Parish Councils elsewhere are provided by Rushcliffe Borough Council at a cost of £903,400 A small amount - £10,400 – is spent by Rushcliffe in the Parishes of Ruddington and £14,200 in Keyworth. Special charges are made to cover these expenses. The special charge on a band D property in West Bridgford is £59.44, in Keyworth it is £4.69 and in Ruddington it is £3.29 with other amounts payable in different bands.

Capital Investment

The Council has approved a Capital Programme of £11.079m for 2024/25. Significant schemes include: £3.613m enhancements to Leisure Centres and Community Facilities; £2.5m available to support Registered Housing Providers for affordable housing; and £1m for sourcing a Traveller’s Site in the Borough. The Council continues to invest in its Vehicle Fleet and IT hardware and Software to keep pace with changing technologies.

Parish Expenditure

The table below shows the amount each Parish Council requires from its own local residents to pay for services in the Parish. The precept shown is for both 2024/25 and the preceding year, together with the additional council tax rate that applies to a band D property in the area.

Parish Expenditure
Parish Area	Parish Band D Tax Rate 2024/25 £	Parish Band D Tax Rate Increases / (Decreases) £	Precept 2024/25 £	Precept 2023/24 £
Aslockton	40.41	6.31	18,100	15,148
Barton-in-Fabis	25.92	0.00	5,446	5,446
Bingham	99.81	4.72	403,529	366,024
Bradmore	32.45	4.72	5,500	4,700
Bunny	87.89	4.22	26,130	24,750
Car Colston	0.00	0.00	0	0
Clipston	0.00	0.00	0	0
Colston Bassett	82.41	5.88	11,200	10,400
Costock	66.36	1.61	20,500	20,000
Cotgrave	101.86	0.73	247,912	246,135
Cropwell Bishop	156.63	3.04	112,850	105,334
Cropwell Butler	52.26	5.60	14,000	12,500
East Bridgford	53.27	2.54	45,537	43,370
East Leake	93.78	(0.83)	319,420	313,450
Elton-On-The-Hill	0.00	0.00	0	0
Flawborough	0.00	0.00	0	0
Flintham	83.03	2.49	18,300	17,750
Gotham	64.11	0.66	39,905	39,490
Granby cum Sutton	72.66	7.50	13,514	12,120
Hawksworth	172.08	0.01	12,510	12,320
Hickling	46.06	7.55	12,076	10,051
Holme Pierrepont & Gamston	37.23	0.91	41,250	39,925
Keyworth	72.27	0.00	218,971	209,395
Kingston-on-Soar	41.46	3.75	5,800	5,275
Kinoulton	15.38	0.00	6,710	6,710
Kneeton	0.00	0.00	0	0
Langar cum Barnstone	125,.01	0.68	45,630	45,220
Newton	59.77	0.00	28,158	23,000
Normanton-on-Soar	80.93	2.69	15,450	14,881
Normanton-on-the-Wolds	64.14	6.00	10,000	9,000
Orston	51.48	3.88	11,800	10,830
Owthorpe	0.00	0.00	0	0
Plumtree	48.80	0.00	6,080	6,080
Radcliffe-on-Trent	106.53	5.06	331,581	312,852
Ratcliffe-on-Soar	0.00	0.00	0	0
Rempstone	41.13	1.95	8,650	8,240
Ruddington	120.43	3.86	380,120	351,420
Saxondale	0.00	0.00	0	0
Scarrington	8.87	0.00	750	750
Screveton	0.00	0.00	0	0
Shelford	112.43	0.00	13,000	13,000
Shelton	0.00	0.00	0	0
Sibthorpe	32.57	2.07	2,000	1,873
Stanford-on-Soar	69.93	5.64	5,000	4,500
Stanton-on-the-Wolds	47.40	0.00	10,500	10,500
Sutton Bonington	86.31	17.62	49,500	45,000
Thoroton	0.00	0.00	0	0
Thrumpton	49.80	0.00	3,830	3,830
Tollerton	93.65	4.24	76,650	73,180
Upper Broughton	49.79	(0.66)	8,500	8,500
Upper Saxondale	78.83	(0.08)	31,000	31,000
West Leake	33.63	0.00	2,300	2,300
Whatton-in-the-Vale	53.81	(0.38)	20,755	20,755
Widmerpool	53.31	0.00	9,350	9,350
Willoughby-on-the-Wolds	49.26	11.84	14,671	11,090
Wiverton & Tithby	0.00	0.00	0	0
Wysall & Thorpe	82.12	(3.92)	18,000	18,000

Council Tax Charge Increases 2024-25

Council Tax Increases per band
Property in Band	Nottinghamshire County Council £	Nottinghamshire County Council Adult Social Care £	Fire Authority £	Police Authority £	Borough £	Total £
A	32.63	22.98	1.76	8.64	2.62	68.63
B	38.08	26.81	2.05	10.08	3.06	80.08
C	43.51	30.64	2.34	11.52	3.50	91.51
D	48.95	34.47	2.64	12.96	3.93	102.95
E	59.82	42.13	3.23	15.84	4.80	125.82
F	70.71	49.79	3.81	18.72	5.68	148.71
G	81.58	57.45	4.40	21.60	6.55	171.58
H	97.90	68.94	5.28	25.92	7.86	205.90

The Average charge for a band D property in Rushcliffe in 2024/25 is: £2,416.58

Parish Expenditure
Average Council Tax at band D property	2023/24 £	2024/25 £	Increase £	Increase %
County Council	1,493.71	1,542.66	48.95	2.84
County Council – Adult Social Care	229.95	264.42	34.47	2.00
Police Authority	269.19	282.15	12.96	4.81
Fire Authority	89.57	92.21	2.64	2.95
Borough Council	153.95	157.88	3.93	2.55
Parish Council	74.16	77.26	3.11	4.19
Total	2,310.53	2,416.58	106.06	4.59

Enquiries about the content of this leaflet or any comments about the Council’s finances should be directed to the Director – Finance and Corporate Services, at:

Rushcliffe Borough Council

Rushcliffe Arena

Rugby Road

West Bridgford

Nottingham

NG2 7YG

Tel: 0115 981 9911

Your Council Tax Bill Explained