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1Where your money goes 2010-2011

Where your money goes

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2010-2011Council spending and performance

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Contents

Where your money goes 2010-2011

Dear fellow residentWelcome to “Where your money goes” which contains important information about your council tax bill and how the council plans to invest your money to deliver services.

Your council continues to invest your money wisely and aims to achieve good value for money for each resident. Despite being one of the lowest-funded councils of our kind we have agreed the lowest ever council tax increase in South Gloucestershire Council’s history of 2.5% for 2010/11.

It has been another busy year for the council and our efforts have been recognised by independent watchdogs. As part of a major assessment of public services, we achieved one of the best set of scores in the country for how we use our resources effectively and provide good value for money. The Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) looked at how well your council manages its performance and we were delighted to be recognised as the best performing council in the South West.

I want to assure you that we are committed to meeting our priorities of:• investing in children and young people• improving health, modernising community care

and health services• managing future development• promoting safer and stronger communities• valuing the environment• maintaining economic prosperity• ensuring we are fit for our future (our internal

improvement programme)You can find out how we have been doing on these priorities on pages 27-34.

Your sincerely, Cllr John Calway, Leader of the council

Your council tax bill explained Including paying your bill, do you qualify for a discount?, your right to appeal and getting help

National non-domestic rates Including small business rate relief

The council’s budget

Council performance and customer care

Avon and SomersetPolice Authority

Avon Fire Authority

A-Z list of services and Councillors can be found at the back of this booklet

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Contents


South Gloucestershire Council has agreed its lowest ever council tax increase of 2.5% for 2010/11. At £1,245.20, the band D council tax for council services is just 58p a week more than a year ago. This is a much lower increase than the 3.4% expected a year ago.

It is anticipated that this level of increase will be around the national average. It is also expected that the overall level of council tax for South Gloucestershire residents will be around the average for all unitary councils in England.

This has been achieved in spite of the fact that South Gloucestershire is one of the lowest funded, yet best performing councils in England. The council provides good value for money services to residents and uses its resources well.

The council expects to continue this policy in the future. The council will continue to become more efficient, and is planning for council tax increases of 2.5% in 2011/12, and 2% in 2012/13.

More detailed information on the council’s budget can be found on pages 17-24.

Council tax and benefit enquiries

Council tax and benefit enquiries are now being dealt with more quickly than ever before.

If you need to make an application for exemption relief from council tax or for council tax benefit you can contact us on 01454 868003 (please have all your supporting information to hand).

Council tax benefit is a national scheme and exists to help those on a low income to get help to pay their council tax, so apply today if you need this help.

Council staff at our one stop shops will also be happy to help you with your claim and can offer advice on how to pay your council tax.

Our benefits service scored four out of four in the last national assessment of local authorities. This means external inspectors have rated our service as excellent.

Your council tax

Council Tax Annual Bill 2010/11

Date of Issue: 03 MARCH 2010

Revenues Division,PO Box 1836,Yate

South Gloucestershire, BS37 5YU

Tel: (01454) 868003 – Council TaxTel: (01454) 868002 – Benefit Enquires

Email: [email protected]

YOUR PROPERTY HAS BEEN VALUED IN BAND D Billing Number

400000000

South Gloucestershire Council – Basic Council TaxSouth Gloucestershire – Special Expenses

% change

from 2009/10

£

1,227.96 17.24

Total South Gloucestershire Council 2.5 1,245.20

Average Parish Council 0.1 54.50

Avon and Somerset Police Authority 4.2 168.03

Avon Fire Authority 3.0 60.38

GROSS AMOUNT FOR YEAR 1st April 2010 to 31st March 2011 2.6 1,528.11

Charge for period Band D 01 - April – 2010 31 – Mar – 2011

25% reduction for single occupancy

1,528.11

382.03

TOTAL DUE 1,146.08

Payment Instructions

INSTALMENTS TO BE PAID BY: DIRECT DEBITFIRST INSTALMENT DUE ON 04/04/2010 £XXX.XX

9 OTHER INSTALMENTS DUE ON THE 4TH OF EACH MONTH FROM 04/05/2010 TO 04/01/2011 £XXX.XX

YOUR INSTALMENTS FOR 2010/11 DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR 2009/10 ACCOUNT BALANCE.

AS AT XX-XXX-XXXX YOUR 2009/10 COUNCIL TAX ACCOUNT BALANCE IS XXX.XX.

£XXX.XX OF THE TOTAL IS SUBJECT TO COURT PROCEEDINGS

If payments are not made on time the full amount outstanding may become due as the Council is no longer required to issue remindersfor every late payment of instalments.

EFFICIENCY INFORMATION

Authority Estimated cumulative efficiencysavings (2009/10)

Councils are required to have regard to economy, efficiency and effectiveness. An efficiency occurs when the

cost of an activity falls, but its effectiveness is not reduced. By the end of March 2010, efficiency savingsachieved since April 2008 are forecast to be:

South Gloucestershire Council £12,705,000

Avon Fire and Rescue Authority £1,478,000

Avon & Somerset Police £12,854,000

Total estimated cumulative savings per Band D property £169

A. N. OTHER

1 HOBBS LANE

KINGSWOODSOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIREBSXX XXX

Address of Property (if different)

Your council tax bill explained


This shows any arrears from previous years. Please contact the council if no arrangement has been made to

clear the balance or if you require clarification

We are now required to show on your bill the efficiency savings the council

expects to achieve by the end of 2009/10. For more details see page 18

of this booklet

Date your council tax bill was issuedName of liable person

Billing address

The council tax band for your property issued by the Inland Revenue

Charge for the year

Method of payment ie.direct debit

Number of instalments, amounts due and dates of instalments

Details of any applicable exemption or discounts

Charge set by Avon Fire Authority5

1 The general charge by the council2 Charges for specific services

3 Charge set by the parish council4 Charge set by Avon & Somerset Police

Council Tax Annual Bill 2010/11

Date of Issue: 03 MARCH 2010

Revenues Division,PO Box 1836,Yate

South Gloucestershire, BS37 5YU

Tel: (01454) 868003 – Council TaxTel: (01454) 868002 – Benefit Enquires


YOUR PROPERTY HAS BEEN VALUED IN BAND D Billing Number

400000000

South Gloucestershire Council – Basic Council TaxSouth Gloucestershire – Special Expenses

% change

from 2009/10

£

1,227.96 17.24

Total South Gloucestershire Council 2.5 1,245.20

Average Parish Council 0.1 54.50


Avon Fire Authority 3.0 60.38

GROSS AMOUNT FOR YEAR 1st April 2010 to 31st March 2011 2.6 1,528.11

Charge for period Band D 01 - April – 2010 31 – Mar – 2011

25% reduction for single occupancy

1,528.11

382.03

TOTAL DUE 1,146.08

Payment Instructions

INSTALMENTS TO BE PAID BY: DIRECT DEBITFIRST INSTALMENT DUE ON 04/04/2010 £XXX.XX

9 OTHER INSTALMENTS DUE ON THE 4TH OF EACH MONTH FROM 04/05/2010 TO 04/01/2011 £XXX.XX

YOUR INSTALMENTS FOR 2010/11 DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR 2009/10 ACCOUNT BALANCE.

AS AT XX-XXX-XXXX YOUR 2009/10 COUNCIL TAX ACCOUNT BALANCE IS XXX.XX.

£XXX.XX OF THE TOTAL IS SUBJECT TO COURT PROCEEDINGS

If payments are not made on time the full amount outstanding may become due as the Council is no longer required to issue remindersfor every late payment of instalments.

EFFICIENCY INFORMATION

Authority Estimated cumulative efficiencysavings (2009/10)

Councils are required to have regard to economy, efficiency and effectiveness. An efficiency occurs when the

cost of an activity falls, but its effectiveness is not reduced. By the end of March 2010, efficiency savingsachieved since April 2008 are forecast to be:

South Gloucestershire Council £12,705,000

Avon Fire and Rescue Authority £1,478,000

Avon & Somerset Police £12,854,000

Total estimated cumulative savings per Band D property £169

A. N. OTHER

1 HOBBS LANE

KINGSWOODSOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIREBSXX XXX

Address of Property (if different)


The unique billing number for your account at this property to be used when making payment

Address of property if different to billing address

Total due for the year

Total amount payable

The adjustment made as a result of any exemptions or discounts

This is the amount which the council needs to raise from council tax in order to provide its main services.

The council provides some services which benefit only certain areas and are provided elsewhere by parish councils. The costs of providing such services, called special expenses, are added to the amounts to be raised from the areas benefiting from these services. This includes the cost of allotments, open spaces, playing fields, closed church yards, public conveniences and the cost of servicing play areas.

If you live in a parished area, your parish or town council may issue a charge to finance its expenditure which South Gloucestershire collects on its behalf.

The Avon and Somerset Police Authority issues its own charge which the council is required to collect.

The Avon Fire Authority issues its own charge which the council is required to collect.

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Paying your billaccount, your charge will be collected by this method year after year

• if you are a council tax payer and pay by direct debit there is a choice of four different payment dates: the 4th, 12th, 20th and 25th of the month

• if you are a business rates payer and pay by direct debit the payment date is the 8th of the month

The easy way to pay your council tax or non-domestic rates is by direct

debit from your bank or building society account.

Anyone not already paying by direct debit will have a mandate enclosed with their bill. Simply complete this mandate and return it to the council. We can also set up your direct debit over the phone on 01454 868003 (council tax) or 01454 867700 (business rates). Please have your bank details (account number and sort code) to hand when you call.

The advantages of paying by direct debit are:

• you are in control - you can cancel at any time

• you will have an immediate refund in the unlikely event of an error

• you are always advised of a change in payment at least 14 days in advance

• no more queuing to pay, no more postage costs

• this is the most cost effective way for the council to collect your charge. A direct debit costs approximately 3p per transaction compared with 20p per transaction for standing orders. Direct debit savings are passed onto the public

• no need to remember to pay each month

• once a direct debit is set up on your

All other methods of paymentPlease see the reverse of your bill to find the other methods of paying. Please note that if you do not pay by direct debit the payment must be on your account by the 1st of each month.

This includes council tax payers who wish to pay their charge by standing order and issue their instructions for payment to their bank. Please make allowances of at least four working days for your payment to reach your account.

Failure to make payment in line with the instructions on your bill will result in action being taken against you to secure this charge. This could include costs being added to your account.


the personal representatives (and for up to six months after probate or letters of administration have been granted)

• are empty because their occupation is forbidden by law

• are empty because they are waiting to be occupied by a minister of religion

• were last occupied by someone who is currently a student, and who would otherwise have been liable

• have been repossessed or which are the responsibility of a bankrupt’s trustee

• are unoccupied annexes or annexes occupied by elderly or disabled relatives

• are pitches or moorings not occupied by caravans or boats

• armed forces barracks and married quarters are also exempt; their occupants contribute to the cost of local services through a special arrangement

If you think your property may be exempt you should contact the council tax section on 01454 868003.

Could you be entitled to an exemption from paying council tax?

Some dwellings are exempt including properties only occupied by:

• students

• those under 18 years old

• members of visiting forces

• certain diplomats and those working for certain international headquarters

In addition vacant properties are exempt which:

• are substantially unfurnished (for up to six months)

• are unoccupied and need or are undergoing structural alteration or major repair, and can be exempt for up to six months after completion of the work as long as the full exemption period does not exceed 12 months

• are owned by a charity (exempt for up to six months)

• are left empty by someone who has gone into prison (except for non-payment of council tax), is detained under the Mental Health Acts, is in hospital or a home receiving care or is receiving personal care elsewhere by reason of old age, disablement or illness

• are left empty by someone who has moved to another property in order to provide personal care to another person or have been unoccupied since the death of the owner or tenant, and for which the only liable person would be

Where your money goes 2010-20118 Where your money goes 2010-2011

the present time. However that does not mean that individuals can not apply for such a discount based on their individual circumstances and we would consider such an application. If you wish to submit an application you should do so in writing to: Council Tax, South Gloucestershire Council, Badminton Road Offices, Yate, South Gloucestershire, BS37 5AF.

Most dwellings are subject to council tax, and there is one bill per dwelling.

For council tax purposes a dwelling includes: houses, bungalows, flats, maisonettes, mobile homes and houseboats. Whether you own or rent a dwelling makes no difference to the council tax charge. Each dwelling has been allocated to one of eight bands according to its open market capital value at 1 April 1991.

Valuation bands

A Up to and including £40,000B £40,001 to £52,000C £52,001 to £68,000D £68,001 to £88,000E £88,001 to £120,000F £120,001 to £160,000G £160,001 to £320,000H More than £320,000

Your council tax bill states which band applies to your dwelling.

Local discounts

In 2003 the Government gave local authorities the power to introduce local discounts. These are or can be discounts that are relevant to people in the local area. However, in making these regulations the Government also stated that the onus of paying for these discounts would fall to the local authority and thus on other council tax payers.

After considering the options open to the council we decided not to award any local discounts on a general basis at

Council tax valuation bands

Welfare Advice Partnership

South Gloucestershire Council has a co-ordinated approach to providing advice and information. It funds a number of voluntary sector organisations who work in partnership with council departments, forming The Welfare Advice Partnership.

The range of specialist topics is broad, including:

•Debt advice•Employment advice•Housing advice•Legal advice•Welfare benefit advice• Information about services for vulnerable people •Representation at tribunals

For further information, the Welfare Advice Partnership website has been created to help residents to find advice and information services across South Gloucestershire.

You can contact them on 01454 865838 or visit their website: www.welfareadvice partnership.co.uk


Do you qualify for a discount

If you, or someone who lives with you, need a room (not a bedroom), or an extra bathroom or kitchen, or extra space in your property to meet special needs arising from a disability, you may be entitled to a reduced council tax bill. The bill may be reduced to that of a property in the band immediately below the band shown on the valuation list.

These reductions ensure that disabled people do not pay more tax on account of space needed because of a disability.

Please contact the council for further details on 01454 868003.

Alternatively your home may have had special fixtures added for a disabled resident which may have reduced its value. If you think these fixtures may have been taken into account in the valuation band to which your home has been assigned, please contact:

The Listing Officer Valuation Office Agency 4th Floor, Citypoint Temple Gate Bristol BS1 6PLTel: 0117 9302200

DisabilitiesCouncil tax is based on the assumption that there are two adults living in a dwelling. If a person lives on their own, the council tax can be reduced by 25%.

A discount may also be applicable if a resident meets the following criteria:

• full-time students, student nurses, apprentices and youth training trainees

• long term patients resident in hospital

•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 (i.e. those persons in respect of whom child benefit is payable)

•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 forces and certain international institutions

•members of religious communities (monks and nuns)

•people in prison (except those in prison for non-payment of council tax or a fine)

•non-British spouses of students who are prevented from taking paid employment or claiming benefits whilst in the UK

If you think you may be entitled to a discount please contact the council on 01454 868003.


Your right to appealThere are two areas for appeal: 1) against the valuation band

A material change in the increase in the value of the dwelling. This change in the value is the result of building, engineering or other work carried out on the dwelling. Any change would not usually affect the band of a dwelling until it is sold. So appeals on these grounds are usually made by new residents.

A material change in the decrease in the value of the dwelling. This will include the demolition of any part of the dwelling, any change in the circumstances of the local area, or an adaptation to make the dwelling suitable for use by someone with a physical disability. In these cases revaluation should take place immediately.

2) against your council tax charge

You consider that you are not liable to pay council tax because you are not the owner or resident, your property is exempt, or there has been a mistake in the calculation of your bill.

These appeals should be made to the council tax section in writing so that they have the opportunity to reconsider the case.

Information supplied to claim a discount on your council tax account may be used to verify the validity of your claim.

All council tax valuations are based on the price a property would have fetched if it had been sold on the open market on 1st April 1991. Any increase or fall in the value of the dwelling which is the result in the general change of the housing market since that date will not affect its valuation band.

Making an appeal does not allow you to withhold payment of tax owing in the meantime. If your appeal is successful you will be entitled to a refund of any overpayment.

These appeals should be made to: The Listing Officer Valuation Office Agency 4th Floor, Citypoint, Temple Gate, Bristol BS1 6PL Tel: 0117 9302200

Please contact the council on 01454 868003 if you would like more information or you have any queries on the appeals procedure.

Please note


Getting helpshops, or on our website www.southglos.gov.uk or by phoning the benefits office on 01454 868002.

Reporting changes in your circumstances

If you are receiving benefits it is very important and your responsibility that you tell the housing benefits office about anything that could change the amount of help to which you are entitled. For example:

• if you start work or increase your hours

• if your income goes up or down

• if someone moves in with you or leaves

• if you stop renting or move out of a property

If you fail to tell us about a change you could either be missing out on extra help or you could be getting too much benefit and we will ask you to pay it back. But remember if you deliberately fail to tell us about a change in your circumstances, you are committing an offence.

Getting the right amount of help?

Housing and council tax benefit

If you are on a low income, receiving retirement pension or just finding it difficult to pay your rent or council tax you may be able to get some financial help.

The council is pleased to offer advice or assess whether you are entitled to these benefits. If you think you could qualify we advise you to apply, provide the supporting information we need, and we will do an assessment to see if you qualify. We also recommend you apply even if you have been turned down in the past. It may be that your circumstances are now different and in some situations the rules change. For example you may still be able to qualify for benefits even if you are receiving extra income from maintenance payments.

The amount a person can receive depends on the level of their weekly income, how much money they have in the bank or building society and the number and age of the people in their household. If you have savings of more than £16,000 you are not eligible for benefit unless you qualify for guaranteed pension credit.

It is recognised nationally that many people do not claim the benefits to which they are entitled. This is especially the case amongst the elderly, disabled or people from minority ethnic groups.

To apply for housing or council tax benefit you must complete an application form which is available at all council one stop

Help us beat the cheatsDuring 2009/10 we prosecuted 45 people and issued sanctions to a further 43 people. It is estimated that benefit cheats cost each household £85 per year.

We need your help to take these cheats to court and prosecute them. If you suspect someone is committing benefit fraud please contact our confidential freephone hotline 08000 737377. All reports are followed up - please give us as much information as possible.


National non-domestic ratesNon-Domestic Rates

Non-Domestic Rates, or business rates, collected by local authorities are the way that those who occupy non-domestic property contribute towards the cost of local services. Except in the City of London, where special arrangements apply, the rates are pooled by central government and redistributed to local authorities as part of the annual formula grant settlement. The money, together with revenue from council tax payers, revenue support grant provided by the Government and certain other sums, is used to pay for the services provided by your local authority and other local authorities in your area.

Rateable Value

Apart from properties that are exempt from Business Rates, each non-domestic property has a rateable value which is set by the valuation officers of the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), an agency of Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs. They draw up and maintain a full list of all rateable values, available on their website at www.voa.gov.uk

The rateable value of your property is shown on the front of this bill. This broadly represents the yearly rent the property could have been let for on the open market on a particular date. For the revaluation that came into effect on 1st April 2010, this date was set as 1st April 2008.

The valuation officer may alter the value if circumstances change. The ratepayer (and certain others who have an interest in

the property) can appeal against the value shown in the list if they believe it is wrong. Further information about the grounds on which appeals may be made and the process for doing so can be found on the VOA website or from your local valuation office.

National Non-Domestic Rating Multiplier

The local authority works out the business rates bill by multiplying the rateable value of the property by the appropriate multiplier. There are two multipliers; the standard non-domestic rating multiplier and the small business non-domestic rating multiplier. The former is higher to pay for small business rate relief. Except in the City of London where special arrangements apply, the Government sets the multipliers for each financial year for the whole of England according to formulae set by legislation. Between revaluations the multipliers change each year in line with inflation and to take account of the cost of small business rate relief. In the year of revaluation the multipliers are rebased to account for overall changes to total rateable value and to ensure that the revaluation does not raise extra money for Government. The current multipliers are shown on the front of this bill.

Revaluation 2010 and Transitional Arrangements

All rateable values are reassessed every five years at a general revaluation. The current rating list is based on the 2010


revaluation. Five-yearly revaluations make sure each ratepayer pays their fair contribution and no more, by ensuring that the share of the national rates bill paid by any one ratepayer reflects changes over time in the value of their property relative to others. Revaluation does not raise extra money for Government.

Whilst the 2010 revaluation will not increase the amount of rates collected nationally, within this overall picture, over a million properties will see their business rate liabilities reduced and some ratepayers will see increases.

For those that would otherwise see significant increases in their rates liability, the Government has put in place a £2 billion transitional relief scheme to limit and phase in changes in rate bills as a result of the 2010 revaluation. To help pay for the limits on increases in bills, there also have to be limits on reductions in bills. Under the transition scheme, limits continue to apply to yearly increases and decreases until the full amount is due (rateable value times the appropriate multiplier). The scheme applies only to the bill based on a property at the time of the revaluation. If there are any changes to the property after 1st April 2010, transitional arrangements will not normally apply to the part of a bill that relates to any increase in rateable value due to those changes. Changes to your bill as a result of other reasons (such as because of changes to the amount of small business rate relief) are not covered by the transitional arrangements.

The transitional arrangements are

applied automatically and are shown on the front of this bill. Further information about transitional arrangements and other reliefs may be obtained from South Gloucestershire Council or the website www.mybusinessrates.gov.uk

More information on revaluation 2010 can be found at www.voa.gov.uk

Unoccupied Property Rating

Business rates will not be payable in the first three months that a property is empty. This is extended to six months in the case of certain industrial properties. After this period rates are payable in full unless the unoccupied property rate has been reduced by the Government by order. In most cases the unoccupied property rate is zero for properties owned by charities and community amateur sports clubs. In addition, there are a number of exemptions from the unoccupied property rate. Full details on exemptions can be obtained from the local authority. If the unoccupied property rate for the financial year has been reduced by order, it will be shown on the front of this bill.

Partly Occupied Property Relief

A ratepayer is liable for the full non-domestic rate whether a property is wholly occupied or only partly occupied. Where a property is partly occupied for a short time, the local authority has discretion in certain cases to award relief in respect of the unoccupied part. Full details can be obtained from the local authority.


National non-domestic ratesSmall Business Rate Relief

This relief is only available to ratepayers who apply to their local authority and who occupy either:

(a) one property, or

(b) one main property and other additional properties providing those additional properties each have a rateable value which does not exceed £2,599.

The rateable value of the property mentioned in (a), or the aggregate rateable value of all the properties mentioned in (b), must not exceed £17,999 outside London or £25,499 in London on each day for which relief is being sought. If the rateable value, or aggregate rateable value, increases above those levels, relief will cease from the day of the increase.

Ratepayers who satisfy these conditions will have the bill for their sole or main property calculated using the lower small business non-domestic rating multiplier rather than the national non-domestic rating multiplier that is used to calculate the liability of other businesses.

In addition, if the sole or main property is shown on the rating list with a rateable value which does not exceed £12,000, the ratepayer will receive a percentage reduction in their rates bill for this property of up to a maximum of 50% for a property with a rateable value of not more than £6,000.

If an application for relief is granted, provided the ratepayer continues to satisfy the conditions for relief which apply at the

relevant time as regards the property and the ratepayer, they will not need to re-apply for relief in each new valuation period.

Certain changes in circumstances will need to be notified to the local authority by the ratepayer (other changes will be picked up by the local authority). The changes which must be notified are:

(a) the ratepayer taking up occupation of a property they did not occupy at the time of making their application for relief, and

(b) an increase in the rateable value of a property occupied by the ratepayer in an area other than the area of the local authority which granted the relief.

Notification of these changes must be given to the local authority within 4 weeks of the day after the day on which the change happened. If this happens, there will be no interruption to the ratepayer’s entitlement to the relief. A notification that the ratepayer has taken up occupation of an additional property must be by way of a fresh application for relief; notice of an increase in rateable value must be given in writing.

Full details on the eligibility criteria and on how to apply for this relief are available from the local authority.


Charity and Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC) Relief

Charities and registered CASCs are entitled to 80% relief where the property is occupied by the charity or the CASC, and is wholly or mainly used for the charitable purposes of the charity (or of that and other charities), or for the purposes of the CASC (or of that and other CASCs). The local authority has discretion to give further relief on the remaining bill. Full details can be obtained from the local authority.

Non-Profit Making Organisation Relief

The local authority has discretion to give relief to non-profit making organisations. Full details can be obtained from the local authority.

Hardship Relief

The local authority has discretion to give relief in special circumstances. Full details can be obtained from the local authority.

Deferred payment of 2009/10 rates liabilities

Ratepayers in 2009/10 were able to defer payment of 3% of their 2009/10 rates bill and, where applicable, 60% of the increase in that bill due to the ending of the 2005 rating list transitional relief scheme. The right to apply for deferral has now ended. For those ratepayers who applied for

this scheme, the deferred amount to be collected in 2010/11 and 2011/12 will be included in the bills for each of those years respectively.


National non-domestic ratesRating advisers

Ratepayers do not have to be represented in discussions about their rateable value or their rates bill. Appeals against rateable values can be made free of charge. However, ratepayers who do wish to be represented should be aware that members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS – website www.rics.org) and the Institute and Revenues and Rating (IRRV – website www.irrv.org.uk) are qualified and are regulated by rules of professional conduct designed to protect the public from misconduct. Before you employ a rating adviser, you should check that they have the necessary knowledge and expertise, as well as appropriate indemnity insurance. Take great care and, if necessary, seek further advice before entering into any contract.

Rate Relief for businesses in rural areas

Certain types of properties in a rural settlement with a population below 3,000 may be entitled to relief. The property must be the only general store, the only post office or a food shop and have a rateable value of less than £8,500, or the only public house or the only petrol station and have a rateable value of less than £12,500. The property has to be occupied. An eligible ratepayer is entitled to relief at 50% of the full charge whilst the local authority also has discretion to give further relief on the remaining bill.

In addition, the local authority can give relief on certain other occupied property in a rural settlement where the rateable value in less that £16,500.

Full details can be obtained from the local authority.


The council’s budgetDue to the current state of national public finances, the financial outlook for publicly funded bodies is not good. The council is expecting reductions in its funding from Government from 2011/12 onwards. At the same time unemployment is higher than it has been recently, so there is more demand for the council’s services. The council recognises that household incomes are stretched, so there is less ability to fund the council with higher council tax increases.

Budget consultation in recent years has shown majority support for setting an average level of council tax, very little support for reductions in services to residents, and a desire for the council to become more efficient.

The council will meet these challenges by:

• maintaining the current strategy of aiming for an average council tax

• delivering good services to residents which achieve better than average resident satisfaction

• setting council tax increases on a downward trend, aiming for long term increases in line with inflation

• delivering the current programme of service reviews to improve efficiency

The council’s service priorities remain unchanged from a year ago and will continue to devote more resources to:

• improve services for the elderly• provide a youth transport concession • provide more support for looked after

children and families• improve the state of repair of the road

network

The council has agreed to lower council tax increases in recent years: 5% in 2007/08, 4.5% in 2008/09, 3.9% last year, and 2.5% for 2010/11. The council expects to continue this trend aiming for 2% increases in 2012/13 and subsequent years.

Nearly two thirds of the council’s funding comes from Government. This is why cash reductions in Government support can have a severe impact. Only just under a quarter of the funding the council receives comes from council tax payers.

Spending on schools accounts for a third of the money spent by the council. The next most important area is community care and housing which covers services to the elderly, including home care and other support. Together with schools, these two account for over half the council’s spending.

How the council will spend £486million in 2010/11

How the council will finance £486million expenditure in 2010/11

Capital Financing etc3%

Children & Young People schools

32%

Children & Young People non schools

10%Community Care & Housing

21%

Other Services17%

Planning, Transportation& Strategic Environment

5%

Community Services12%

Council Tax Payers23%

Government General Grants16%

Government Schools Funding32%

Government Speci�c Grants

12%

Sales, Fees & Charges & Other Income

17%

Capital Financing etc3%

Children & Young People schools

32%

Children & Young People non schools

10%Community Care & Housing

21%

Other Services17%

Planning, Transportation& Strategic Environment

5%

Community Services12%

Council Tax Payers23%

Government General Grants16%

Government Schools Funding32%

Government Speci�c Grants

12%

Sales, Fees & Charges & Other Income

17%


Becoming more efficient is key to the council’s aim of maintaining an average council tax, continuing to invest in priority services, and coping with falling funding.

A year ago the council set out plans to save £12million a year over three years from its service review programme. This programme will save costs on support services, ensure frontline services are protected and improve the customer experience for residents.

This programme started to deliver savings in 2009/10. It will deliver over £2million of savings in 2010/11, over £7million the year after, and £12million in the third year.

The council will also expect to make savings by:

• absorbing cost pressures where demand for services increases

• absorbing inflationary increases in costs

• expecting to see lower pay awards for staff, (in 2010/11 councils nationally have agreed there should be no pay increase)

Overall, these savings will exceed 3% in 2010/11, rising to nearly 4% in 2012/13 as the table below shows

2010/11 2011/12 2012/13

£million 5.8 6.3 7.4

As percentage of budget

3.0% 3.2% 3.7%

Being more efficientEach year the council is asssessed by independent watchdogs including the Audit Commission. Part of this assessment looks at the way the council uses its resources. This involves nine separate measures each marked out of 4. South Gloucestershire Council achieved a mark of 3 for each of these and therefore a 3 overall. This makes us the third best performing council of the 55 unitary councils in England. Only one unitary council received a four overall.

Efficiency Savings

This is the second year that the council has been required to provide standard information on efficiency savings. The table below shows the council’s estimated total efficiency savings to the end of 2009/10, and compares the savings per band D property to the estimated average for all unitary councils. Because South Gloucestershire has a relatively high tax base, and relatively low spending compared with similar sized unitary authorities, £6million of savings will be reported as a saving of £67 per band D property. In a similar sized council, with higher spending, and a lower council tax base, the same £6million of savings will be reported as a saving of £87 per band D property.

Estimated total savings by end of 2009/10

South Gloucestershire total £12.705m

South Gloucestershire per Band D property £142

Average Unitary Authority per Band D property £169

Actual total savings at end of 2008/09

South Gloucestershire total £5.883m


The council’s budgetTh

e ne

xt tw

o pa

ges

show

the

coun

cil’s

reve

nue

budg

et fo

r las

t yea

r, th

e cu

rren

t yea

r, an

d in

dica

tive

budg

ets

for t

he n

ext

two

year

s. T

hey

also

sho

w th

e ca

uses

of t

he c

hang

e in

net

spe

ndin

g, a

nd th

e ca

pita

l inv

estm

ents

bei

ng m

ade

by th

e co

unci

l in

its b

uild

ings

, roa

ds a

nd o

ther

faci

litie

s.

Coun

cil s

ervi

ces a

nd h

ow th

ey a

re fu

nded

2009

/10

2010

/11

2011

/12

2012

/13

Gros

s Exp

(£

m)

Inco

mE

(£m

)nE

t Exp

(£

m)

SErv

iCES

Gros

s Exp

(£

m)

Inco

mE

(£m

)nE

t Exp

(£

m)

nEt E

xp

(£m

)nE

t Exp

(£m

)

154.

415

4.4

0.0

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ren

and

youn

g pe

ople

- sc

hool

s15

3.4

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40.

00.

00.

0

46.6

11.3

35.3

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and

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n sc

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35.4

67.5

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73.4

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18.7

38.3

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ces

60.1

20.0

40.1

41.5

43.2

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.7

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19.9

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7

179.

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819

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The council’s budgetW

hy h

as th

e bu

dget

cha

nged

?W

hy h

as th

e co

unci

l tax

rise

n?

Capi

tal i

nves

tmen

t

2008

/09

to

2009

/10

2009

/10

to

2010

/11

2010

/11

to

2011

/12

2011

/12

to

2012

/13

£ milli

on£ m

illion

£ milli

on£ m

illion

Coun

cil ta

x inc

ome f

or p

revi

ous y

ear

104.

210

8.8

112.

711

5.8

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ge in

spen

ding e

tc8.4

9.61.0

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extra

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rant

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ction

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rplus

(-)-0

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f bala

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0.0

Coun

cil ta

x inc

ome f

or ye

ar10

8.8

112.

711

5.8

118.

7

2009

/10

2010

/11

2011

/12

2012

/13

£ milli

on£ m

illion

£ milli

on£ m

illion

Child

ren a

nd yo

ung p

eople

30.1

27.4

10.0

0.7

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mun

ity ca

re &

hous

ing4.4

8.23.4

1.6

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mun

ity se

rvice

s4.5

3.11.3

1.2

PTSE

inc S

106

9.114

.312

.03.6

Othe

r ser

vices

16.4

14.7

4.80.8

Tota

l64

.567

.731

.57.

9

2008

/09

to

2009

/10

2009

/10

to

2010

/11

2010

/11

to

2011

/12

2011

/12

to

2012

/13

£ milli

on£ m

illion

£ milli

on£ m

illion

Budg

et fo

r the

pre

viou

s yea

r17

0.8

179.

218

8.9

189.8

Chan

ge in

dedic

ated

scho

ols gr

ant

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0.00.0

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ge in

othe

r gra

nt ar

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.1-3

.7-4

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Council tax to be collected and payments due

2009/10 2010/11

prEcEpt (£)

spEcIalExpEnsEs (£)

paymEntsBand d (£)

prEcEpt(£)


paymEntsBand d (£)

108,796,871 1,214.89 South Gloucestershire tax requirement 112,719,506 1,245.20

-1,480,162 -16.53 Less special expenses reallocated -1,560,861 -17.24

107,316,709 1,198.36 111,158,645 1,227.96

5,250,492 58.63 Avon Fire Authority 5,465,779 60.38

14,441,317 161.26 Avon and Somerset Police Authority 15,210,580 168.03

CouNCil TAx bY ArEA (including parish precepts and special expenses)

278,167 1,440.57 Total unparished areas 335,408 1,482.86

4,540 386 1,448.65 Acton Turville 4,700 372 1,487.48

0 1,525 1,419.10 Almondsbury 0 1,958 1,457.37

47,346 4,621 1,457.98 Alveston 47,346 4,457 1,495.88

3,250 22 1,432.99 Aust 3,250 30 1,470.88

60,000 48,817 1,452.16 Bitton 61,500 55,741 1,492.53

775,260 72,159 1,540.13 Bradley Stoke 789,733 75,590 1,580.73

23,000 17,222 1,462.69 Charfield 24,000 19,689 1,504.43

2,290 0 1,437.99 Cold Ashton 2,458 0 1,477.74

8,000 242 1,447.58 Cromhall 8,000 223 1,486.06

155,335 75,597 1,516.89 Dodington 156,865 77,434 1,556.41

84,600 62,033 1,450.77 Downend & Bromley Heath 84,600 78,939 1,492.11

3,000 40 1,438.52 Doynton 4,000 0 1,483.40

3,700 516 1,448.37 Dyrham & Hinton 3,700 537 1,486.64

3,213 825 1,437.48 Falfield 4,159 790 1,479.72

525,680 28,537 1,594.14 Filton 540,950 25,088 1,634.93

165,191 18,373 1,494.20 Frampton Cotterell 170,382 15,557 1,532.91

1,565 8 1,432.95 Great Badminton 1,552 0 1,470.35

27,793 47,588 1,454.42 Hanham 27,793 43,269 1,490.12

33,225 51,040 1,457.66 Hanham Abbots 25,000 50,342 1,491.30


The council’s budget

2009/10 2010/11

prEcEpt (£)


paymEntsBand d (£)

prEcEpt(£)


paymEntsBand d (£)

11,167 1,310 1,442.06 Hawkesbury 11,368 1,397 1,480.64

900 0 1,436.62 Hill 900 0 1,474.74

4,062 644 1,448.42 Horton 4,005 670 1,484.70

14,000 3,029 1,450.32 Iron Acton 18,000 3,224 1,495.86

516 0 1,427.63 Little Sodbury 516 0 1,465.93

171,000 16,735 1,458.31 Mangotsfield Rural 163,000 49,330 1,501.49

53,000 9,716 1,508.36 Marshfield 53,950 9,747 1,545.09

10,000 123 1,447.25 Oldbury 12,000 22 1,490.33

97,960 123,875 1,461.91 Oldland 96,589 130,187 1,501.03

25,000 3,315 1,451.06 Olveston 25,000 3,144 1,488.79

570,000 36,035 1,606.87 Patchway 500,000 33,895 1,621.87

54,000 24,180 1,484.11 Pilning & Severn Beach 54,000 23,222 1,520.78

28,092 16,832 1,465.64 Pucklechurch 28,373 17,341 1,504.54

10,866 543 1,459.89 Rangeworthy 10,866 544 1,497.56

1,300 191 1,436.43 Rockhampton 1,300 197 1,474.85

14,000 42,435 1,457.01 Siston 17,000 59,591 1,504.15

174,465 49,362 1,530.06 Sodbury 177,796 47,616 1,568.96

221,275 130,665 1,497.22 Stoke Gifford 281,254 88,335 1,537.92

417,426 76,594 1,528.85 Thornbury 433,650 77,474 1,570.08

3,692 317 1,441.98 Tormarton 3,640 312 1,479.76

50 0 1,419.13 Tortworth 100 0 1,458.12

17,650 1,336 1,485.34 Tytherington 17,650 980 1,522.20

71,785 579 1,470.20 Westerleigh 71,783 635 1,507.69

19,000 1,362 1,445.95 Wick & Abson 19,000 1,639 1,483.89

30,160 9,089 1,473.53 Wickwar 31,300 9,307 1,513.48

173,500 22,857 1,474.38 Winterbourne 170,500 23,591 1,511.43

753,914 201,320 1,555.28 Yate 769,985 193,017 1,594.33

Each parish set a 2010/11 precept. No parish issued indicative precepts for 2011/12 or 2012/13. If all parishes increased their 2010/11 precept by a further 3.0% p.a. the total value of the precepts for 2011/12 and 2012/13 would be £5,081,520 and £5,233,966 (£4,993,513 for 2010/11).


Parishes spending more than £140,000

2009

/10

2010

/11

net e

xp. £

net e

xp. £

Sodb

ury

Tow

n Co

unci

l11

2,10

0Re

crea

tion

96,1

0015

0,85

3O

ther

ser

vice

s14

2,97

726

2,95

323

9,07

7-8

8,48

8Ba

lanc

e tr

ansf

ers

-61,

281

174,

465

177,

796

Stok

e g

iffor

d Pa

rish

Cou

ncil

60,1

00Re

crea

tion

63,1

3524

3,60

0O

ther

ser

vice

s23

8,01

915

,000

Capi

tal p

roje

cts

7,50

02,

575

Cont

inge

ncie

s2,

600

321,

275

311,

254

-100

,000

Bala

nce

tran

sfer

s-3

0,00

022

1,27

528

1,25

4

Thor

nbur

y To

wn

Coun

cil

178,

675

Recr

eatio

n14

9,44

828

5,79

0O

ther

ser

vice

s32

7,81

815

,000

Cont

inge

ncie

s20

,000

479,

465

497,

266

-62,

039

Bala

nce

tran

sfer

s-6

3,61

641

7,42

643

3,65

0

Win

terb

ourn

e Pa

rish

Cou

ncil

31,6

00Re

crea

tion

35,6

0019

8,28

0O

ther

ser

vice

s19

3,01

022

9,88

022

8,61

0-5

6,38

0Ba

lanc

e tr

ansf

ers

-58,

110

173,

500

170,

500

Yate

Tow

n Co

unci

l18

5,49

8Re

crea

tion

240,

023

476,

509

Oth

er s

ervi

ces

515,

726

235,

624

Capi

tal p

roje

cts

689,

600

0Co

ntin

genc

ies

089

7,63

11,

445,

349

-143

,717

Bala

nce

tran

sfer

s-6

75,3

6475

3,91

476

9,98

5

2009

/10

2010

/11

net e

xp. £

net e

xp. £

brad

ley

Stok

e To

wn

Coun

cil

246,

974

Recr

eatio

n24

3,27

91,

004,

999

Oth

er s

ervi

ces

1,01

6,86

21,

251,

973

1,26

0,14

1-4

76,7

14Ba

lanc

e tr

ansf

ers

-470

,408

775,

259

789,

733

Dod

ingt

on P

aris

h Co

unci

l52

,770

Recr

eatio

n51

,770

102,

565

Oth

er s

ervi

ces

105,

095

155,

335

156,

865

Filto

n To

wn

Coun

cil

297,

845

Recr

eatio

n28

9,64

016

,352

Capi

tal p

roje

ct (R

ecre

atio

n)26

,352

211,

483

Oth

er s

ervi

ces

224,

958

525,

680

540,

950

0Ba

lanc

e tr

ansf

ers

052

5,68

054

0,95

0

Fram

pton

Cot

tere

ll Pa

rish

Cou

ncil

30,4

27Re

crea

tion

33,0

5915

5,55

3O

ther

ser

vice

s15

8,21

218

5,98

019

1,27

1-2

0,78

9Ba

lanc

e tr

ansf

ers

-20,

889

165,

191

170,

382

Man

gots

field

rur

al P

aris

h Co

unci

l37

,317

Recr

eatio

n49

,300

65,0

00Ca

pita

l pro

ject

(Vill

age

Hal

l)65

,000

154,

265

Oth

er s

ervi

ces

143,

000

256,

582

257,

300

-85,

582

Bala

nce

tran

sfer

s-9

4,30

017

1,00

016

3,00

0

Patc

hway

Tow

n Co

unci

l76

,100

Recr

eatio

n78

,000

488,

700

Oth

er s

ervi

ces

432,

500

55,0

00Ca

pita

l pro

ject

s21

6,00

061

9,80

072

6,50

0-4

9,80

0Ba

lanc

e tr

ansf

ers

-226

,500

570,

000

500,

000


The council’s budgetOther levies and precepts on the council

2009/10 2010/11

£ £

Land Drainage - Lower Severn (2005) Internal Drainage Board 165,643 186,032

Flood Defence Environment Agency - South West Region (Wessex) 237,977 244,989

Flood Defence Environment Agency - Midlands Region (Severn Trent) 13,244 13,021

Avon Fire Authority 5,250,492 5,465,779

Avon and Somerset Police Authority 14,441,317 15,210,580

Details of the land drainage and flood defence levies are set out below and reflect current funding arrangements. Information on the Police and Fire Authority precepts is contained in separate sections within this booklet.

The following levies have been received by South Gloucestershire Council:

2009/10 2010/11 2009/10 2010/11 2009/10 2010/11

£ ‘000 £ ‘000 £ ‘000 £ ‘000 £ ‘000 £ ‘000

Gross expenditure 56,100 63,822 31,817 31,813 1,512 1,548

Net expenditure 3,611 5,825 3,950 3,867 805 857

Levy requirement 3,075 3,000 3,090 3,167 714 793

Changes in levies requirement due to:

Inflation 482 (n/a) 935 (n/a) 38 35

Changes in quality/quantity of service 11,341 (n/a) 0 (n/a) -10 12

Fees and charges -12,873 (n/a) 0 (n/a) 13 5

Other 0 (n/a) 0 (n/a) 0 0

Changes in net expenditure -1,050 2,214 935 -83 41 52

Transfers from (-)/to(+) balances 1,125 -2,289 -860 160 -6 27

Change in levy requirement 75 -75 75 77 35 79

Council Tax base - band D properties 2,888,934 2,907,617 1,001,280 1,007,189

Midlands Region South West Region

Environment Agency Lower Severn(2005) Drainage

Board


Customer careWe aim to make sure that you receive a high quality and efficient service from South Gloucestershire Council. We are committed to providing easy access to quality services, delivered fairly, courteously and professionally.

In order to make sure we are taking into account the ever increasing expectations of our customers we have updated our Customer Care Charter and the targets we work to when delivering services. Our new charter was launched on 1 January 2010 and has been developed with a range of staff and customers to make sure that we are focusing on what is important to you. For a copy of our new charter call us on 01454 868009 or email [email protected]

Customer feedback

We welcome and value your feedback so that we can improve the services we provide to you. If we have done something that has exceeded your expectations or a member of staff has gone the extra mile to assist you please let us know.

Sometimes things go wrong, so if you are unhappy with the service you have received it is important that you let us know. We will look into your complaint, let you know the outcome, takes steps to put things right and, most importantly, learn from it.

More information on compliments, suggestions and complaints is available in our information leaflet ‘Help us to get it right’, available from our one stop shops

or by calling 01454 868009 or email [email protected]

Consultations

We have to make decisions about issues that will affect the lives of people who live and work in South Gloucestershire. As part of this process we will ask customers and stakeholders about our services. Make sure you have your say by taking part in the consultations about issues that matter to you.

To find out more about how you can take part in our consultations please visit www.southglos.gov.uk. Alternatively you can telephone 01454 868009 or email [email protected]

To request a copy of the customer care charter or complaints leaflet, or to give us your feedback, please contact us:


Telephone: 01454 868009

Post: Customer Services, Council Offices, Castle St, Thornbury BS35 1HF

Online at www.southglos.gov.uk

You can access detailed information about the services we provide, send us an enquiry or complaints form and use our online payment facility at a time that suits you.


Council performanceSouth Gloucestershire continues to be one of the best performing councils in the country! As part of the new framework for assessing public services - the Comprehensive Area Assessment - the council achieved one of the best set of scores in the country and the best in the South West.

The CAA looked at whether the council uses its resources effectively and provides good value for money. The new framework also provides an assessment of how well local public services, including the council, police, fire and health service, are working together to meet the needs of local people. This information is published on the new Oneplace website www.direct.gov.uk/oneplace

The assessment highlights achievement across the seven priorities agreed by the council and its partners. South Gloucestershire was also awarded a coveted green flag for its exceptional and innovative performance in how it manages growth.

•Managing future development: The council and its partners are good at planning for and meeting the challenges of area growth. Traffic congestion is now under control, CO2 emissions are falling and new schools and community facilities have been built in areas that need them most

•Being healthier: Most people in South Gloucestershire are healthier than the national average. Life expectancy is above average and improving.

Teenage pregnancies and childhood obesity are lower than average. The number of people who smoke is below average

•Investing in children and young people: Children and young people get a relatively good start in life, provided with well co-ordinated services. Healthy living is promoted well, child obesity is much lower than average

•Maintaining economic prosperity: The council has reduced the impact of the recession by providing information events about welfare and debt advice

•Modernising health and community care services: Older people have improved health and increased choice over their care. More people are receiving care to prevent hospital admissions. More people with learning difficulties are supported to live at home

•Promoting safer and stronger communities: South Gloucestershire is generally a safe place to live with low rates of crime. Violent crime is low. Vehicle crime and burglaries are reducing. Road casualties are falling

•Valuing the environment: South Gloucestershire has a high quality natural environment that sustains wildlife habitats. The council makes good use of natural resources and works well to mitigate the impact of climate change. It is reducing its own carbon emissions, water consumption, waste and business mileage. New public buildings are built to a high environmental standard


An update on our prioritiesinvesting in children and young people

Highlights from 2009/10

❙ Five of our schools were judged by Ofsted as outstanding (two primary, two secondary and one special). 18 other providers of education were also judged as outstanding

❙ Children in our schools are getting healthier. We are expecting all our schools to achieve National Healthy School Status in early 2010-11

❙ Key stage 1 results, at the expected level in reading, writing and maths, remained in the top 25% of all local authorities

❙ Key stage 2 results, at the expected level in English, maths and science, were in the top 25% of local authorities

❙ The percentage of pupils achieving five or more A*-C GCSEs including English and maths has increased for the fifth year running

❙ Attendance at primary and secondary schools remains much higher than the national average and our schools are

performing within the top 25% of all local authorities

❙ Persistent absence rates for primary and secondary schools remain lower than nationally and performance is within the top 25% of all local authorities

❙ No school in South Gloucestershire is in special measures (failing to provide quality education)

❙ The percentage of children becoming the subject of a Child Protection Plan for a second or subsequent time has decreased for the second year running and is lower than the national average

❙ The proportion of 16-18 year olds not in education, employment or training was 4.5% compared with a national average of 6.7%

❙ The number of teenage pregnancies (under 18) has fallen and is below the average rate for the South West

What we need to do better

❙ Standards in secondary schools at key stage 4 and post-16 need to improve

❙ We need to improve the attainment of children from families where there are multiple factors of deprivation including financial hardship

❙ We need to improve the quality of provision in private, voluntary and independent childcare provision, as evaluated by Ofsted and improve outcomes for five year olds as measured by performance assessed under the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile


An update on our prioritiesimproving health, modernising community care and health services


❙ Not all of our clients have all their social care services in place within four weeks of assessment. We are working hard to ensure this improves

❙ Too many people are being delayed in hospital when they are fit to be discharged. In response to this we are working with the NHS on a series of schemes to prevent avoidable admissions, reduce length of stay, and prevent delayed discharges


❙ The council’s adult social care services have been rated as being amongst the best in the South West, according to the Care Quality Commission. In a recent inspection, they found that the council was ‘performing well’ in six of the seven assessed categories, and performing ‘excellently’ in the remaining one

❙ The First Contact scheme has been running since September 2009, with staff from 13 organisations trained in the use of the referral pack

❙ Prevention services for older people have improved with over 2,500 new customers receiving new services such as chiropody

❙ The number of people in temporary accommodation has reduced from 278 at the end of December 2008 to 102 at the end of December 2009

❙ Extra care housing has received a huge boost with grant funding of £9.3million and council investment of £4million to begin construction of three developments of 163 extra care units in Yate, Downend and Kingswood

❙ The number of adults with learning difficulties in residential care has decreased from 374 in September 2008 to 344 in September 2009

❙ The number of people accessing self directed support using a direct payment continues to increase

❙ Free swimming for over 60’s was introduced in April 2009


Managing future development


❙ The South West region has prioritised major transport schemes in our area including the Greater Bristol Bus Network, North Fringe to Hengrove Package, Greater Bristol Metro and Rapid Transit from Emersons Green to Temple Meads. This will allow bids to be made to Government for these schemes

❙ The Abbeywood Roundabout signalisation and the New Road bus link have been successfully completed

❙ Planning applications are being dealt with quicker than ever

❙ South Gloucestershire has some of the safest roads in the country with the second lowest road casualty rate of local authorities in England

❙ Congestion on our roads is continually decreasing

❙ We are working with partners across the West of England to ensure investment is co-ordinated and meets the needs of new developments

❙ We have delivered Bikeability Cycle Training to 97% of our primary schools, helping to increase safety and encourage cycling as a mode of transport

❙ We provided local community transport groups with seven new cars to help improve access for local residents to facilities such as doctors’ surgeries, dentists and social activities. We increased funding for community transport operators to allow them to offer service at the evenings and weekends

❙ We have launched a youth concessionary travel scheme called Youth Unltd for all 14-18 year olds in full time education

❙ The number of Diamond Travelcard holders is amongst the highest in England

❙ The high profile ‘use it!’ campaign for the X27 Yate to Bristol bus route has boosted passenger numbers on the service by a third


❙ We need to encourage more people to use the bus

❙ We will work with our partners to ensure more bus services run on time


An update on our prioritiesPromoting safer and stronger communities


We said we would continue to prevent and tackle crime, disorder, anti-social behaviour, drug and alcohol misuse and the fear of crime effectively:

❙ We ran a Friday Night Project in Hanham for 12 weeks over the summer which led to a reduction in anti social behaviour in the area

❙ Alcohol awareness campaigns reduced low-level assaults by 4% across South Gloucestershire

We said we would reduce inequalities that exist within South Gloucestershire, supporting vulnerable communities and improving opportunities for them:

❙ We are in the top 5% of local authorities in the country when it comes to tackling inequality. We have achieved Level 4 of the Equality Standard for Local Government. This means that all forms of equality (age, disability, gender, gender identity, race, religion/belief and sexual orientation) are at the core of service delivery, policies and employment practices across the council

❙ We identified and took action to tackle the issues that most concern local people in our most vulnerable communities. Half of these actions have already been completed by local groups and agencies including: shrub clearing

and litter picks; a new dental practice in Staple Hill; improved access to health services and stop smoking sessions; better facilities for young people at a Filton youth centre and work in Patchway to challenge racism

We said we would increase the involvement of people in the life of their communities and in the decision-making processes that affect their quality of life and the services they receive:

❙ Between 2008 and 2009, there was an 8% increase in people who feel they can influence decisions in their local area

❙ Our Safer Stronger Community Groups (SSCGs) have driven positive change in their neighbourhoods

- Severn SSCG tackled anti social behaviour by working with young people in the community to produce a music DVD. This has led to the young people organising an event to provide information and workshops to their peers in other rural communities.

- Stoke Gifford and Chipping Sodbury and Cotswold Edge SSCGs set up Community Speedwatch schemes to tackle speeding motorists in their communities


We said we would ensure there are sufficient social space, buildings and networks to create vibrant, cohesive communities and enable rich cultural participation and opportunities for all:

❙ We have supported local business communities to set up new Chambers of Commerce and Business Associations and improve the vitality and vibrancy of our town centres

❙ In partnership with local community groups and volunteers, successful community events included South Gloucestershire’s first Armed Forces Day (pictured right)

❙ We are helping local groups to take ownership of community spaces and buildings in Cadbury Heath, Mangotsfield, Staple Hill and Winterbourne

Yate Library re-opened in January 2010 following a £1.5million makeover of the facility. The new-look library has a wide range of services available to the public.

Staple Hill Library continues to flourish, with 1,300 new members joining since the library opened in January 2009.


❙ Further reassure all residents that South Gloucestershire is a safe place to live and work

❙ Bring together organisations and communities so that residents have equal access to opportunities regardless of where they live


An update on our prioritiesvaluing the environment


❙ We need to reduce more carbon emissions quicker


❙ We have signed up to the 10:10 campaign to further reduce carbon emissions

❙ Plans have been developed for three new Cycle City routes – Parkway Station to Bradley Stoke, Bradley Stoke to Cribbs Causeway and Emersons Green links to the village centre

❙ Bike Week – the biggest nationwide cycling event in the UK – saw an increase of 78% of attendees from South Gloucestershire this year

❙ We awarded four companies in South Gloucestershire with Travel Plan Awards. UWE and Atkins received gold awards for reducing the number of staff and students driving alone to the Frenchay campus and Aztec West respectively

❙ We secured a £100,000 grant from Access to Nature and £47,000 from Natural England to support projects in Kingswood, Staple Hill and Cadbury Heath and £20,000 from the Museums and Development service for a project called ‘Valuing Volunteers’

❙ We organised successful events for the Festival of British Archaeology, Heritage Open Days and summer and autumn local food festivals

❙ We worked with our partners to successfully achieve Fair Trade status for South Gloucestershire

❙ For the second year running, Wick Golden Valley Local Nature Reserve was awarded a Green Flag award

❙ We are leading a project to reduce carbon emissions from the council’s integrated transport unit. Up to 11,500 trees will be planted to offset the 4,000 tonnes of CO2 the service produced last year. Local taxi companies and bus operators have been asked to sponsor fruit trees to be planted in local schools and communities

❙ Levels of cleanliness across the district are generally very good (we have a 3% litter rate compared with the national average of 10%). This was recognised when we were awarded five stars in the Clean Britain Awards

❙ Our enforcement team is taking action against individuals who are dropping litter and waste in litter hot spots across the region, such as the A4174 Avon Ring Road

❙ We have employed a dedicated officer to target litter in town centres in our region. As a result we have seen a significant improvement in levels of cleanliness


Maintaining economic prosperity


❙ The current economic climate has clearly had an impact on the work done to support economic development in South Gloucestershire. As a result a significant amount of new initiatives and additional monitoring has been put in place to meet demand

❙ With partners across the West of England and the Homes and Communities Agency, we have started to develop an economic prospectus to identify key employment sites that require investment

❙ Work on the SPark development is due to begin in summer 2010 with the Innovation Centre the first building to open in mid 2011

❙ To support the aerospace sector we have now joined the UK Aerospace Alliance

❙ Together with BaNES Council, South West RIEP and GWE Business West we have funded the ‘Adapt to Survive’ programme to help businesses identify how innovation can benefit them during the recession

❙ Working with Business Link we have provided clinics for people looking to start up their own businesses or become self-employed

❙ The new version of the South Gloucestershire Business Directory was distributed to around 3,000 businesses and is available online at www.southglos.gov.uk

❙ We have been working alongside the Learning and Skills Council and local colleges to raise the percentage of the working age population qualified to at least 5 GCSE’s or equivalent. This has increased to 74.1%, well above the national average of 68.9%

❙ We have provided young people with the opportunity to gain valuable experience and training such as the Future Jobs Fund and apprenticeships to help them get into the job market

❙ We are working with Job Centre Plus to successfully tackle rising unemployment in priority neighbourhoods


❙ Ensure that new commissioning and monitoring processes for delivering basic adult skills development meet the needs of our businesses and residents, particularly those in most need in priority areas

❙ Do more to promote South Gloucestershire as a great place to do business and encourage inward investment


An update on our priorities


❙ We need to improve how we deal with changes in customer details and circumstances so you only have to tell us once of changes. Our transformation programme will help us to improve this

Ensuring we are (our internal improvement programme)


❙ Our accommodation strategy will deliver average annual savings of £1.3million over the next 60 years. We are reducing the number of council offices and buildings we currently lease and opening our new office on Badminton Road, Yate in April 2010. The new office has been praised for its environmental credentials, assessed as excellent by a recent independent inspection

❙ Our smarter working programme will enable staff to work in a variety of ways and locations to meet the needs of our customers

❙ We are striving to ensure that customer queries are answered by the first member of staff to whom they speak

❙ The South Gloucestershire Partnership has agreed a vision to ensure that everyone who lives and works in South Gloucestershire fulfils their potential, enjoys an excellent quality of life, supports our communities and protects the environment

❙ We achieved one of the highest ratings in the country for how we use our resources in the recent Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA). The CAA told us that

the council is performing well, has strong political and managerial leadership and provides good value for money

❙ £12.7 million efficiency savings have been made as we continue to deliver excellent value for money

❙ We are only one of a handful of local authorities in the country to have achieved Investors in People gold status.This is a national quality standard that is designed to transform and improve the council’s performance through its staff

❙ We have updated our customer care charter to make sure we are focussing on what is important to you. Our new charter sets out the targets we work to when responding to customer enquiries

❙ A major transformation programme has commenced to improve customer services across the council. It will transform our customer services, provide staff with better technology to give residents an even better customer experience and it will help the council achieve £12million a year in savings within the next three years

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Badminton Road office


The building has also been designed to meet the council’s commitment to reduced energy consumption and carbon emissions. The building has been praised for its environmental credentials, assessed as excellent by a recent independent inspection

It is fitted out with:

• solar panels to heat water

• a bio mass boiler to provide heat

• a rain water harvesting system to provide free water for flushing toilets

• large windows to provide natural light and ventilation

Staff will start to move into Badminton Road in April 2010. The Yate one stop shop will remain open and provide customer services to residents.

A major refurbishment of Kingswood Civic Centre is also due to start in 2010. This will result in a much improved one stop shop for customers and a new council chamber for public meetings.

South Gloucestershire Council’s new office at Badminton Road in Yate is part of the council’s ongoing drive to deliver better value for money and ensure that every pound goes as far as possible.

Once complete these eco-friendly offices will save taxpayers an average of £1.3million a year for 60 years.

How?

The answer is through ‘prudential borrowing.’ The council borrows the majority of the money needed – so that it is not diverted from other things like school buildings, libraries and sports and leisure facilities – on the basis that significant savings will be generated upon completion.

The savings will be achieved by:

• moving out of old buildings that have become inefficient to run and are no longer fit for purpose

• selling older building stock to generate capital

• ending leases on expensive rented offices

• sharing offices with other organisations like the NHS and the police

The building will bring most departments together on a single site to improve service delivery. At the same time we are adopting smarter working patterns which means staff will travel around less, work from home more, require less equipment and use fewer vital resources like paper.

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Police info here

www.aspola.org.uk www.avonand somerset.police.uk

What matters to youThe Police Authority and Constabulary haveworked hard on this year’s budget to ensurethe financial impact on our communities,through the police part of the council tax, iskept to an absolute minimum while stillensuring the force not only maintains itsgood performance but also improves.

We have made great strides in reducingcrime and bringing offenders to justice, wehave achieved the lowest recorded crimerate for a decade and nearly a 10% rise in

people’s confidence in policing within Avonand Somerset.

In the coming year we will continue to improvethe quality of local policing and further developtrust and confidence in the services weprovide. Neighbourhood Policing teams arevital to the success of policing within Avon andSomerset and we will continue to make sureofficers and PCSOs are readily accessible tolocal communities. This, coupled with ourattack on serious and organised crime, willhelp deliver a quality policing service to ensureyou feel safe and are safe.

The Budget 2010/11 andwhat it means to you…

The Police Authority has balanced the needto keep costs as low as possible forresidents while reflecting the policing needsof our communities and maintaining frontlinepolicing.

We continue to lobby for a fair deal in thepolice grant settlement which makes up themajority of Police Authority funding (66%).However the economic situation andanticipated forthcoming public sector spendingconstraints will have a significant impact onresources available for policing. Each yearAvon and Somerset Police Authority loses £12million a year that it is assessed to need. Bythe end of the funding cycle (2010/11) thePolice Authority will have lost nearly £59million due to the funding formula. Thisequates to 272 extra Police Constables or 409PCSOs who could have been employed everyyear in Avon and Somerset.

For the 2010/11 police budget we seek tomaintain frontline policing numbers andexisting services.

In order to do this we have had to identifysignificant efficiency savings. This has beenpossible due to the work we have donethrough collaboration and partnerships likeour joint venture with Southwest OneLimited.

In 2010/2011 the Authority expects to spend£280.72 million (£270.43 million 2009/10) onpolicing services for you and your localcommunity.

The police council tax precept forms part ofthe overall council tax you pay and detailsare shown on the face of your council tax bill.This represents a total cost of £168.03 peryear to the average council taxpayer in Avonand Somerset including the rise of £6.77 for2010/2011.

Down to the detailThe following table shows the main reasonsfor the changes to the budget from 2009/10to 2010/11 together with details of how thebudget is financed.

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Capital InvestmentThe Authority has agreed a capitalprogramme for 2010/11 of £17.8m (£28.1m2009/10).

The programme includes continuedinvestment in national information andcommunication systems, and replacement ofpolice vehicles and equipment.

In addition it also includes the capital costs ofprogressing the Accommodation Reviewcurrently being undertaken by the Authority.

In agreeing the Capital programme, theAuthority has approved a borrowing level of£13.5m (£24.5m 2009/10).

Details of the capital programme are asfollows:

2009/10 Details of Spend 2010/11£m £m2.7 Information and 6.1

Communication Systems

20.5 Estates 7.52.5 Transport Services 3.70.4 Plant, Machinery and 0.5

Equipment2.0 Support Services Systems -

28.1 Total Spend 17.8

To be funded from3.2 Capital grants 3.2

24.0 Borrowing 13.50.7 Revenue Contributions 0.70.1 Capital Receipts 0.10.1 Other funding 0.3

28.1 Total funding 17.8

Becoming more efficientAll Constabularies are required to haveregard to economy, efficiency andeffectiveness in their actions. During 2009/10Avon and Somerset Constabulary hasdelivered a number of efficiencies, as well asbegun further transformation work which willdeliver efficiencies in future years. Thisactivity means that we are on track to achievethe target of £26.5m by the end of 2010/11.

The Constabulary is required to measure

The Revenue Budget2010/2011Police Officers £171,615,600 56.5%Police Staff £53,751,100 17.7%Community Support

Officers £10,860,700 3.6%Police Pensions £5,827,200 1.9%Running Expenses £31,530,300 10.4%Capital Funding Costs £4,905,100 1.6%Other Costs (net of

Savings) £24,490,400 8.1%Transfer to Reserves £500,000 0.2%

The Authority has set a budget requirement afterdeducting income from specific grants, fees and chargesof £280.72m (£270.43m in 2009/10). The table showsthat the majority of this is funded by Government andHome Office grants with the balance being met fromCouncil Tax. The resulting increase in the Police AuthorityCouncil Tax Precept is 4.2%

and report the value of efficiencies they haveachieved since April 2009. An efficiencysaving occurs when the cost of an activityfalls, but its effectiveness is not reduced.The table below shows the value ofefficiency savings achieved by the end ofMarch 2009 and forecast to be achieved bythe end of March 2010:

By March By March2009 £m 2010 £m


£mBudget for 2009/10 270.43One-off adjustments to base budget 1.71Pay and Price Inflation 6.55Commitments 4.69Efficiency Improvements and Savings (3.16)Contribution to Balances 0.50Budget for 2010/11 280.72This is funded by:National Business Rates 65.21Government Revenue Support Grant 9.47Home Office Police Grant 111.39Surplus on earlier years Collection 0.42FundsBalance to be met by Council 94.23

Taxpayers280.72

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Police info here

www.aspola.org.uk www.avonand somerset.police.ukwww.aspola.org.uk www.avonandsomerset.police.uk 29

Latest Force Performance against 2009/10Policing Plan Targets

Indicator Performance Change on Targetprevious

year

Satisfied with the ease of contacting us * 91.4% +0.2% pts 93%Satisfied with the action we take at the scene * 79.0% +0.6% pts 80%Satisfied with our follow-up service * 70.1% +2.3% pts 68%Satisfied with service provided by our staff * 92.8% +0.9% pts 93%Satisfied with overall service * 82.9% +1.3% pts 83%Satisfaction rate of victims of racist incidents * 73.1% -5.5% pts 80%Percentage of complaints resolved locally (where local resolution is suitable) **** 73% +12% pts 75%

Domestic burglary per 1000 households ** 10.6 -15.5% reductionRobbery per 1000 population ** 1.1 -12.4% reductionTheft of motor vehicles per 1000 population ** 2.0 -25.2% reductionTheft from motor vehicles per 1000 population ** 5.3 -24.4% reductionGun crime ** 137 +8.3% reduction

Detection rate for all crimes **** 28.9% +1.6% pts 28%Detection rate for domestic burglary **** 12.5% -1.6% pts 17%Detection rate for robbery **** 20.8% +3.2% pts 20%Detection rate for theft of motor vehicles **** 15.1% +0.4% pts 17%Detection rate for theft from motor vehicles **** 7.9% -3.4% pts 11%Detection rate for hate crime **** 41.6% +7.6% pts 42%Detection rate for violence against person **** 54.3% +8.0% pts 47%Detection rate for rape **** 27.0% +6.3% pts 22%

Percentage of residents who feel that the police understand and deal with matters of local concern **** 47.4% N/A 47%Percentage of residents who have confidence in 54.0% N/A 54%local policing ****Concern over levels of anti-social behaviour **** 13.3% +1.0% pts 12.3%Concern over local drug use/dealing **** 21.6% -0.8% pts 22.4%Concern over drunk/rowdy behaviour **** 25.1% -0.7% pts 25.8%Fatalities or serious injuries resulting fromroad traffic collisions Not available 511 for 2010

999 calls answered within 10 seconds 89% +4% pts 90%General calls answered within 40 seconds 84% +4% pts 75%Urban emergency incidents attended in 15 min 92.4% Not available —Rural emergency incidents attended in 20 min 87.6% Not available —

* 12 Months ending 31st December 2009** Annual estimate based on Apr-Dec 2009*** 1st April - 31st December 2009**** Data from British Crime Survey - at 30 June 2009

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Avon and SomersetPolice 2010/11ObjectivesChallenging performance targets have beenset in the Policing Plan and theConstabulary’s performance against thesetargets will be monitored and publicised by theAuthority. The targets reflect the determinationof both the Authority and the Constabulary toprovide the highest possible quality of policingservices and criminal investigation. Alsoensuring the communities of Avon andSomerset feel safe and have the highestpossible levels of confidence in local policing.

CITIZEN FOCUSED POLICING● Reduce local disorder and anti-social

behaviour (ASB), in particular alcohol-related violence

● Prioritise our Policing Pledgecommitments by improving our quality ofservice and feedback

● Continue to invest in mobile technologyand reduce bureaucracy

REDUCING CRIME & BRINGINGOFFENDERS TO JUSTICE● Focus on robbery, domestic burglary,

racial and other hate crime, rape,domestic violence, violent crime andvehicle crime

● Build community confidence in thecriminal justice process

● Continue to modernise our workforce,improving our capability and capacity toinvestigate, detect and reduce crime

PROTECTION FROM SERIOUS HARM● Continue a leading role in the region by

disrupting serious and organised crimenetworks and improving the safety of ourroads

● Continue to tackle major crime,particularly the supply of illegal drugs,offences against children and vulnerablepeople and knife and gun crime

● Develop and implement counter-terrorism strategies

PEOPLE & RESOURCING● Ensure the efficient use of financial

resources to provide value for money● Reduce sickness levels ● Continue to collaborate in partnership

with other forces and agencies

A glance of 2010/11 targets… A furtherreduction in burglary of 10%, robbery 15%and vehicle crime of 5%. In terms ofdetecting crime, the target is to raise theoverall rate to at least 29%. Improving thedetection rate of rape to at least 27%.Regarding satisfaction levels for the ease ofcontacting us, the target is to raise this fromits current level of 93% to at least 95%.

To see the Policing Plan in full go towww.aspola.org.uk or call 01275 816377

For further informationBudget questionsTreasurer to the Police AuthorityValley Road, PortisheadBristol BS20 8JJTel: 01275 816377www.aspola.org.uk

Policing issuesChief ConstablePO Box 37, Valley RoadPortishead, Bristol BS20 8QJTel: 0845 456 7000www.avonandsomerset.police.uk

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The table below shows the value of gainsforecast to be achieved by March 2010 forthe average Band D dwelling and comparesthat with the average figure for similarauthorities across England:

Saving per NationalBand D dwelling average for

similar authorities

Avon and Somerset Police Authority £23.12 £53.79

Each year all Police Authorities, as well as allCouncils, are assessed by the AuditCommission on their use of resources andgiven a score out of 4 (4 being ‘performingstrongly’ and 1 being ‘inadequateperformance’). In November 2009 Avon andSomerset Police Authority scored 3,recognising the good performance inmanaging our finances and in ourgovernance arrangements.

Becoming more efficient (continued)

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Fire info

For further information please contact: Avon Fire & Rescue Service, Temple Back,Bristol, BS1 6EU Telephone: 0117 926 2061

www.avonfire.gov.uk

Avon Fire & Rescue Service (AF&RS), under the direction of Avon Fire Authority, works in partnership with organisations and agencies to help prevent emergencies. Providing free services to protect all its communities, Avon Fire & Rescue Service targets those most at risk from fire in the home or on the roads. In the event of an emergency AF&RS is fully trained and prepared to respond.

Public safety through preventing, protecting and responding

AVON FIRE AUTHORITY

Efficiency information

Where each pound goes

Running costs 22%Employees 67%

Pensions 11%

Avon Fire Authority is required to report the value of efficiency savings that have been achieved since April 2008. During 2008/09 efficiency savings of £1,037,000 were achieved and a further £441,000 is expected to be made during 2009/10, bringing the cumulative efficiency savings achieved to £1,478,000.

The value of these forecast cumulative savings on a Band D Council Tax is £4, which is equal to the national average for similar authorities.

Avon Fire Authority has recently been assessed by the Audit Commission as “Performing well” under the Government’s Comprehensive Area Assessment. The service delivers good value for money and has a solid track record of operating within budget. The efficiency savings achieved were praised, together with providing local tax payers with lower than average Council Tax rates compared to other fire and rescue services across the country. Avon has the sixth lowest Council Tax of the Combined Fire Authorities.

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Avon Fire Authority has set its budget at £47.086m after allowing for a Government grant increase of 0.5%. This gives a Council Tax of £60.38 per Band D property, an increase of 2.98% on last year, which is equivalent to £1.75 per annum or three pence per week.

The budget includes allowance for the cost of inflation, improvements to our service identified within our Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP) and capital funding costs.

2009/10(£m)

2010/11(£m)

Total fire expenditure 48.308 48.916

Use of reserves -0.500 -0.100

Income -1.684 -1.730

Total 46.124 47.086Revenue support grant 4.642 3.155

Share of NNDR* 20.113 21.724

Council tax 21.238 22.097

Collection fund surplus 0.131 0.110

Total 46.124 47.086

Main changes in expenditure (£m)2009/10 Budget requirement 46.124Inflation 0.285

Capital Financing/Lease charges

0.197

Other 0.532

Use of reserves 0.400

Savings -0.452

Total 47.086

The main changes in spending from 2009/10 to 2010/11 are identified below.

Avon Fire Authority has set a Capital Programme for 2010/11 of £2.765m (excluding slippage), compared with £2.650m for 2009/10. The programme includes vehicle replacement, refurbishment of premises and replacement of computer and communications equipment.

For further information visit our website:www.avonfire.gov.uk

2010/11(£m)

Premises 0.720Vehicles and equipment 1.775IT and communications 0.270Total 2.765

Annual budget

Capital requirements

Spending plans

* NNDR - Business rates

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· Worried about benefits or tax credits? · Having problems with your child’s school? · Are your debts out of control? · Are you being unfairly treated at work? · Are you having problems with your landlord?

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We can help with problems like housing, education, debt and employment as well as benefits and tax credits.

Community Legal Advice is a free and confidential advice service paid for by legal aid.

We can help with problems like housing, education, debt and employment as well as benefits and tax credits.

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This year Councillor Shirley Holloway, Chair of South Gloucestershire Council, has chosen to support two charities: the Alzheimer’s Society (Bristol and South Gloucestershire Branch) and BRACE (Bristol Research into Alzheimer’s and Care of the Elderly).

Both of these registered charities provide support to people with dementia and their families and enable research to be carried out into the cause, prevention and possible cures of Alzheimer’s disease.

For more information please visit: www.alzheimers.org.uk tel 0117 961 0693 and www.alzheimers-brace.org tel 0117 975 4831

Chair’s charities

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