Further to the Precept question raised by the clerk at the March 2024 Parish council meeting. The reason why the precept shows as a 1.5% increase from 2023 is as follows:
There are various amendments to discounts and exemptions but in particular, there are more properties exempt from paying and additional single occupier discounts that have been awarded, which will reduce the Band D equivalents.
Our council tax base has decreased in the past year which explains why it shows a council tax increase when our parish budget is unchanged (at £8056) . Essentially fewer houses are covering the cost of that budget- hence the shown increase.
Looking at the council tax base for 2024/25- it is 240.41 and for 2023/24 it was 244.02. It’s a weighed average of the number of houses at band D as well as other discounts such as single person, houses with residents who are exclusively in full time education etc.
Basically, band D went from £33.01 to £33.51 per month which is a 1.5% increase. This is not something the Parish Council have control over when setting the precept in November each year, as we are not usually advised of our tax base until mid December.