Lincolnshire council tax: How will yours change?

Council tax will go up across Lincolnshire due to an increase in precept from police and some district councils.

All local authorities have now decided on the changes for their share of council tax for 2014/15.

Due to budget cuts from government a range of authorities have agreed to raise their share of the tax.

How will the changes affect you?

Here are the different council tax changes approved by local authorities to begin from April:

Lincolnshire County Council: No increase
Lincolnshire Police/ PCC: 1.99% increase
City of Lincoln Council: 1.8% increase
North Kesteven District Council: 1.93% increase
West Lindsey District Council: No increase

These figures will alter your council tax bill depending on the area in which you live.

For a Tax Band A property in Lincoln, you will now pay £1003.08 for the year, which amounts to £19.29 per week.

In a property in NKDC, the total tax bill at Band A would become £934.86, plus extra charges in some areas for parish councils e.g. in Branston and North Hykeham.

Those in WLDC will only be affected by changes to Lincolnshire Police’s rise in council tax precept, meaning tax for the year is £967.26, plus extra charges for individual parish councils e.g. in Gainsborough.

What does council tax pay for?

Council tax, which all households pay to their local authority unless exempt, helps provide a variety of services, from an effective police force and public health services to bin collections and community project funding.

Authorities which benefit from Council Tax include district councils, Lincolnshire County Council, Lincolnshire Police and the Police Crime Commissioner.

Council tax is used to fund a number of schemes and projects in your area.

The County Council uses the most of the tax bill, but here is how each authority uses it:

District councils:

• Refuse collection and removal
• Leisure centres
• Park and ride schemes
• Maintenance of parks and open spaces
• Street cleaning
• Environmental health and food safety
• Planning services
• Support for voluntary groups
• Facilities for young people
• CCTV installation
• Sports facilities
• Issuing various licences
• Flood defences

County Council:

• Adult Care
• Public Health
• Children’s Social Care
• Education Services
• Highways and Transportation
• Environment, Planning and Customer Services
• Economy and Culture
• Finance and Resources
• Fire & Rescue and Emergency Planning
• Community Safety
• Performance and Governance

To find out which tax band your property is in, contact your local council. Alternatively, visit the Valuation Office Agency’s tax band finder online.