Part IE+W Council Tax: England and Wales

Chapter IVE+W Precepts

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C6Pt. I Chs. III-IV (ss. 30-52) modified (E.) (1.2.1993) by S.I. 1993/22, art. 4(2)

Pt. I Ch. IV amended (28.11.1994) by S.I. 1994/2825, reg. 49

Pt. I Ch. IV (ss. 39-52) excluded (1.8.1996) by S.I. 1996/1748, reg. 6(2)

Pt. I Ch. IV (ss. 39-52) restricted (12.7.1995) by S.I. 1995/1771, art. 4(3)(b)(i)

Pt. I Ch. IV (ss. 39-52) restricted (12.7.1995) by S.I. 1995/1772, art. 4(3)(b)(i)

Pt. I Ch. IV (ss. 39-52) restricted (12.7.1995) by S.I. 1995/1773, art. 4(3)(b)(i)

Pt. I Ch. IV (ss. 39-52) restricted (12.7.1995) by S.I. 1995/1774, art. 4(3)(b)(i)

C7Pt. 1 Chs. 4, 4ZA: power to modify conferred by 2009 c. 20, s. 107G(3) (as inserted (E.W.) (28.1.2016 for specified purposes, 28.3.2016 in so far as not already in force) by Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016 (c. 1), ss. 5(3), 25(2))

C8Pt. 1 Chs. 4, 4ZA applied (with modifications) (27.4.2017) by The Combined Authorities (Finance) Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/611), arts. 1, 4(1)(2)(a), Sch.

C9Pt. 1 Ch. 4: power to amend conferred (26.12.2023) by Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (c. 55), ss. 41(3), 255(2)(c) (with s. 247)

Calculations by local precepting authoritiesE+W

[F149ACalculation of council tax requirement by authorities in EnglandE+W

(1)In relation to each financial year a local precepting authority in England must make the calculations required by this section.

(2)The authority must calculate the aggregate of—

(a)the expenditure the authority estimates it will incur in the year in performing its functions and will charge to a revenue account for the year in accordance with proper practices,

(b)such allowance as the authority estimates will be appropriate for contingencies in relation to amounts to be charged or credited to a revenue account for the year in accordance with proper practices,

(c)the financial reserves which the authority estimates it will be appropriate to raise in the year for meeting its estimated future expenditure, and

(d)such financial reserves as are sufficient to meet so much of the amount estimated by the authority to be a revenue account deficit for any earlier financial year as has not already been provided for.

(3)The authority must calculate the aggregate of—

(a)the income which it estimates will accrue to it in the year and which it will credit to a revenue account for the year in accordance with proper practices, other than income which it estimates will accrue to it in respect of any precept issued by it, and

(b)the amount of the financial reserves which the authority estimates that it will use in order to provide for the items mentioned in paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (2) above.

(4)If the aggregate calculated under subsection (2) above exceeds that calculated under subsection (3) above, the authority must calculate the amount equal to the difference; and the amount so calculated is to be its council tax requirement for the year.

(5)For the purposes of subsection (2)(c) above an authority's estimated future expenditure is—

(a)that which the authority estimates it will incur in the financial year following the year in question, will charge to a revenue account for the year in accordance with proper practices and will have to defray in the year before the following sums are sufficiently available, namely, sums—

(i)which will be payable to it for the year, and

(ii)in respect of which amounts will be credited to a revenue account for the year in accordance with proper practices, and

(b)that which the authority estimates it will incur in the financial year referred to in paragraph (a) above or any subsequent financial year in performing its functions and which will be charged to a revenue account for that or any other year in accordance with proper practices.

(6)This section is subject to section 52ZV below (which requires a direction to a local precepting authority that the referendum provisions in Chapter 4ZA are not to apply to the authority for a financial year to state the amount of the authority's council tax requirement for the year).

Textual Amendments

F1Ss. 49A, 49B inserted (3.12.2011) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), ss. 78, 240(2); S.I. 2011/2896, art. 2(g)

49BSubstitute calculationsE+W

(1)A local precepting authority which has made calculations in accordance with section 49A above in relation to a financial year (originally or by way of substitute) may make calculations in substitution in relation to the year in accordance with that section.

(2)None of the substitute calculations are to have any effect if the amount calculated under section 49A(4) above would exceed that so calculated in the previous calculations.

(3)Subsection (2) above does not apply if the previous calculation under subsection (4) of section 49A above has been quashed because of a failure to comply with that section in making the calculation.]

50 Calculation of budget requirement [F2by authorities in Wales] .E+W

(1)In relation to each financial year a local precepting authority [F3in Wales] shall make the calculations required by this section.

(2)The authority must calculate the aggregate of—

(a)the expenditure the authority estimates it will incur in the year in performing its functions and will charge to a revenue account for the year;

(b)such allowance as the authority estimates will be appropriate for contingencies in relation to expenditure to be charged to a revenue account for the year;

(c)the financial reserves which the authority estimates it will be appropriate to raise in the year for meeting its estimated future expenditure; and

(d)such financial reserves as are sufficient to meet so much of the amount estimated by the authority to be a revenue account deficit for any earlier financial year as has not already been provided for.

(3)The authority must calculate the aggregate of—

(a)the sums which it estimates will be payable to it for the year and in respect of which amounts will be credited to a revenue account for the year, other than sums which it estimates will be so payable in respect of any precept issued by it; and

(b)the amount of the financial reserves which the authority estimates that it will use in order to provide for the items mentioned in paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (2) above.

(4)If the aggregate calculated under subsection (2) above exceeds that calculated under subsection (3) above, the authority must calculate the amount equal to the difference; and the amount so calculated shall be its budget requirement for the year.

(5)For the purposes of subsection (2)(c) above an authority’s estimated future expenditure is—

(a)that which the authority estimates it will incur in the financial year following the year in question, will charge to a revenue account for the year and will have to defray in the year before the following sums are sufficiently available, namely, sums—

(i)which will be payable to it for the year; and

(ii)in respect of which amounts will be credited to a revenue account for the year; and

(b)that which the authority estimates it will incur in the financial year referred to in paragraph (a) above or any subsequent financial year in performing its functions and which will be charged to a revenue account for that or any other year.

(6)F4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F2Words in s. 50 heading inserted (3.12.2011) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 7 para. 27(2); S.I. 2011/2896, art. 2(i)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C10Pt. I Chs. III-IV (ss. 30-52) modified (E.) (1.2.1993) by S.I. 1993/22, art. 4(2)

C11S. 50 applied (with modifications) (W.) (coming into force in accordance with art. 1(2)(3) of the amending S.I.) by The Monmouthshire (Communities) Order 2021 (S.I. 2021/1227), art. 251(5)

51 Substitute calculations.E+W

(1)A local precepting authority which has made calculations in accordance with section 50 above in relation to a financial year (originally or by way of substitute) may make calculations in substitution in relation to the year in accordance with that section.

(2)None of the substitute calculations shall have any effect if the amount calculated under section 50(4) above would exceed that so calculated in the previous calculations.

(3)Subsection (2) above shall not apply if the previous calculation under subsection (4) of section 50 above has been quashed because of a failure to comply with that section in making the calculation.