LGiU and MJ survey on the Local Finance Bill

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This Local Finance Bill has now completed its committee stage and is awaiting its report stage on the floor of the House.

The Government has listened to concerns about the equalisation of local rates with proposals for top-ups, tariffs and levies. However, we understand that some people within local government are anxious about how the scheme will work over time and whether the top ups will retain their value.

This short, 5-min survey of senior local finance officers is designed to understand your thoughts about the Local Finance Bill and council finances in general. There are 17 questions in total, all are on this page.

The survey will be closed on 15 Feb and results shared the following week in the MJ.

Thank you for taking the time to take part in the survey. If you have any questions, please contact Rob Dale on rob.dale@lgiu.org.uk.

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* 1. Which authority do you work for?

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* 2. What is your role?

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* 3. On current understanding, do you project you will gain or lose financially from the localisation of business rates?

Gain

Lose

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* 4. How decentralising do you believe the plans proposed in the Local Finance Bill will be?

Very decentralising

Somewhat decentralising

No effect

Slightly more centralising

Very much more centralising

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* 5. In 2012, do you plan to freeze your council tax or increase above the 2.5% ‘deal’ offered by the Government?

Freeze

Increase

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* 6. In 2013 would you prefer the freedom to increase council tax at whatever you feel appropriate rather than be offered another ‘deal’ from the government, like the 2.5% offered in 2012?

Freedom to increase

Deal from Government

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* 7. How many business units do you have in your authority that are exempt from paying full business rate tax? e.g. charity shops

0-25

25-50

50-75

75-100

100+

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* 8. Are you looking to pool your business rates with neighbouring authorities?

Yes

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* 9. To what extend do you think the localisation of business rates will lead to a two-tier system of top up and tariff councils?

Not at all

In a few authorities

In some authorities

Very much so

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* 10. Do you intend to borrow to fund infrastructure over the next three years?

Yes

If yes, do you intend to borrow from the Public Works Loan Board or from capital markets?

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* 11. After fiscal tightening and funding reductions, what do you consider the greatest medium term pressure on council finance

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* 12. After fiscal tightening and funding reductions, what do you consider the greatest long term pressure on council finance

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* 13. To what extent do you agree with the following statement, 'business rates relocalisation incentives us to support the creation of certain types of business'

Yes

Comment

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* 14. Does your authority envisage being able to assimilate the 10% reduction in cash available for council tax benefit through back office savings?

Yes

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* 15. Do you plan to make use of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) powers contained in the bill?

Yes

If yes, for what sort of projects?

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* 16. What other taxes would you like to see localised?

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* 17. Would you like to be subscribed to the LGiU blog and informed of the results as soon as they are published? If yes, please provide an email address below

Yes

Email address

To learn more about The MJ, including how to register, please visit the MJ.co.uk.

Would you like to subscribe to The MJ with a 30% discount? If so, please call the MJ on 0207 973 6694 and quote code A267JZ12 and provide your email address.