SE23 Forum

Lewisham Council, the one party state where you will again Pay more for Less in 2019/20. It is derived from a basic 2.99% INCREASE PLUS an additional 2%.


This comes after an over spend in the previous financial year 2018/2019 of - £16.5M.

The authority has gone for the largest most EXTORTIONATE council tax increase allowable.

http://councilmeetings.lewisham.gov.uk/i...AIId=21582

These are the recommendations YOUR Councillors approved on YOUR behalf

"3. RECOMMENDATIONS

3.1 The Mayor is asked to:

3.2 note the Council Tax Base calculation for 2019/20, as set out in the annual Council Tax Base government return, attached at Appendix A;

3.3 recommend Council agree a Council Tax Base of 88,405.1 Band D equivalent properties for 2019/20;

3.4 recommend Council agree a budgeted Council Tax collection rate of 97.0%;

3.5 recommend Council approve the continuation of the discretionary Council Tax discount of 100% for care leavers up to the age of 25, as set out in section six of this report;

3.6 recommend Council agree that the existing policy of a 0% discount for second homes for 2018/19 be continued for 2019/20, as set out in section six of this report;

3.7 recommend Council agree that the existing policy of a 0% discount for empty homes Class A (an empty property undergoing structural alteration or major repair to make it habitable) be continued, as set out in section six of this report;

3.8 recommend Council agree that the existing policy of a 100% discount awarded for a period of four weeks and then a 0% discount thereafter, for empty homes – Class C (a substantially empty and unfurnished property) be continued, as set out in section six of this report;

3.9 recommend Council agree that the existing policy of an empty homes premium in respect of long term empty properties is increased to 100%, as set out in section six of this report;

3.10 note the proposed 2019/20 National Non Domestic Rate (NNDR) estimated net yield of £67.4m, based on current information available.

3.11 recommend Council agree to delegate the approval of the final 2019/20 NNDR1 form to the Interim S151 Officer for submission by the deadline of 31st January 2019."

Those responsible for the report are:

David Austin Head of Corporate Resources on 020 8314 9114 or;
Ralph Wilkinson Head of Public Services on 020 8314 6040


https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/17424...9-in-2019/

Still, good work if they manage to collect 97% of council tax!

No, that is the recommend Target that the Council have agreed themselves, as a budgeted Council Tax collection rate of 97.0%. Doesn't actually mean they'll achieve it.

Bearing in mind that in 2018/19 the council over spent £16.5M on children’s social care, clearly that Division within the Council can't manage its own own budget. How hard is it really to monitor actual against planned expenditure on a monthly basis?? Clearly it's not rocket science.

In fact, I'd happily go through each division by division, department by department, team by team to identify all wasteful expenditure and ask the difficult questions which clearly they are unable to do themselves.

Councillors, YOU should be holding Council Officers to account for their actions or their lack of accountability.

What's the value gained from the production, printing and distribution of that glossy waste of space magazine Lewisham Life, Answer, NONE, first saving DONE.

I was being ironic but obviously it’s a dying art.

Just got my council tax bill with a 6% increase on 2018/19 (3 times the rate of inflation). How is this warranted?

I wonder what the pay rise for council staff will be this April? And suggest that the council enforces a 5 year pay freeze.

See this link:-

/www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/17520987.lewisham-childrens-budget-overspend-debate-causes-tempers-to-flare/

Lewisham children's budget overspend debate causes tempers to flare

So an overspend of £9.6M actually becomes an overspend of £15.6M. The council has its reserves, why did they not use some of that to reduce the burdensome increase in council tax?

Obviously pure incompetence within the council resulted in such an overspend. In any commercial business it would not be tolerated and heads would roll. But this is the public sector and god forbid anyone takes responsibility, rather they come up with excuse after excuse, including results would not be seen this year but instead in the next financial year.

What is the expected overspend for that year then?

What is even more amusing is that the councillors are bickering at the public meeting, leading to it being suggested that unless they behave. they'll be asked to leave the meeting. That's what you get with one party democracy, "NOT".

What if the current budgets are too small and they need to be larger?

Would explain both the overspend and the increase in tax revenue targets.

And a greater tax take would potentially mean no overspend as budgets could be higher.