fenja hair leaflet - essex cm7 9hb. for bank transfers, quote sort code 08-90-04, account number...

Working together

inform2012/13

Your Council Tax – what’s in it for you?

Page

Welcome – a guide to your Council

This guide explains what Council Taxis, who has to pay it and where the moneyis spent. It also gives advice on exemptions,discounts and benefits you may be entitled to.Your Council Tax supports the vital work ofBraintree District Council, Essex CountyCouncil, Essex Police Authority, Essex FireAuthority, and Parish and Town Councils.Each authority sets its own Council Tax rateand develops its own plans – read on tofind out where your money goes.

Difficulty paying? We can helpRemember, we are here to help you. If youcannot pay your Council Tax, please contact us on 01376 557722 or email: [email protected]’t wait until you are in debt as this makesit more difficult to sort out the problem.

We only send two reminders in the year.Following that, should the bill remain unpaid,a Summons and possibly a Liability Order willbe issued, both incurring costs.

More informationWe can provide this leaflet in large print,free of charge. For more about this orabout Council Tax, phone 01376 557722.

What’s inside?Easy ways to pay 3

How your Council Tax is shared 3Braintree District Council

Facing the challenge 4-5Where your money went 6-7

What is Council Tax? 8

Exempt properties and discounts 9

Council Tax Benefit 10

What your Parish or TownCouncil receives 11

About Essex County Council 12

About Essex Police Authority 16

About Essex Fire Authority 20

2 | A guide to your Council Tax 2012/13

Cover photograph by John Parish: ‘Wethersfield’.

Easy ways to paySign up for direct debitPhone us on 01376 557722 to set up yourdirect debit by phone. You will need your sort code, bank accountnumber and Council Tax reference number.Pay online, by phone, by cheque or banktransferPhone our automated 24-hour paymentline on 01376 557894 – credit cardpayments incur a transaction fee.Send cheques to Box 207, BraintreeDistrict Council, Causeway House,Braintree CM7 9HB.For bank transfers, quote sort code 08-90-04, account number 61021251and your reference number starting 43. It’s on the front of your bill.Manage your Council Tax online*Go to website www.braintree.gov.uk• To pay online, from our home page

click on the Pay Bills link.• Look at your account balance.From our home page, click on Council Taxto open our Council Tax pages. From hereyou can:• request electronic bills• find out how to pay your Council Tax• look at reductions you get and other

ways to reduce your bill• tell us about a change of address• print a direct debit instruction• appeal against your liability to the tax. Contact the Council Tax department [email protected]*The council website will be redesigned during2012/13 and some of these links may change.

How your CouncilTax is sharedTo make things simpler for everyone,Braintree District Council collects theCouncil Tax on behalf of the DistrictCouncil, Essex County Council, EssexPolice Authority, Essex Fire Authority, andthe Parish and Town Councils in the district.

Here’s how your Council Tax is allocated:

Tax

Braintree DistrictCouncil

receives 11%

Essex CountyCouncil

receives 73%

Parish or TownCouncils

receive 2%

Essex Fire Authorityreceives 5%

Essex PoliceAuthority

receives 9%

www.braintree.gov.uk | 3

Building stronger partnershipsWe successfully transferred the managementof four council-owned community halls tolocal organisations that will manage themon behalf of local communities, saving over £79,000.

Doing more with lessThis year we cut the cost of bureaucracy by establishing a Cabinet of just fivecouncillors – making it the smallest in our history. 95% of respondents to ourconsultation favoured such a move, whichsaves over £35,000.

Our workforce is also more efficient – since2009 we have reduced our staff by 15.7%from 572 to 482 without directly affectingfrontline services.

Facing the challenge…In 2012/13 we face another year of tough financial challenges.

Our funding from Government has reduced by 27% over the two years 2011/12 and2012/13. In addition, inflation is reducing our purchasing power and our income fromactivities like development and building control is falling.

Our income for 2012/13 looks set to be £16.9m, £1 million less than the previous year.These pressures mean we have to make savings and find new ways to do more with less.

Over the last five years we have saved £6.83 million – mainly by being more efficient andperforming better. Also, by March 2013, we have plans to save a further £1.59 million.

Generating incomeWe use council-owned assets such asindustrial units and offices to generate anincome that supports the running ofservices. With the first tenants moving intoMayland House in Witham, we can expecta boost to our income of up to £500,000.

With competitive markets emerging forrecyclable materials, we can now sell whatwe collect. With your support we expectthat in 2012/13 we can achieve an incomeof around £385,000.

Sharing servicesWe joined forces with three other councilsin Essex to jointly buy our IT services. Thispioneering approach will save £1.28 millionover five years – a saving we could nothave made by working alone.

So how will we do it?Tough times call for creative solutions – here are just some of the new ways we areworking to make savings and maintain services:

Braintree District Council


Our expenditure...Graphs compare figures for 2012/13 with 2011/12

Our income...Graphs compare figures for 2012/13 with 2011/12

This year we are once againfreezing ourpart of theCouncil Tax.

This honours our 2010 pledgeto keep Council Tax frozen untilat least March 2013.

Our pledge Despite this challenging situation, ourpledge to you is that we will:

• make greater efficiencies • support residents through tough times• maintain local services.

Listening to you:In a recent survey asking what makes anarea a good place to live and what’simportant to you, we received over 1000responses.

We used your feedback to develop ourCorporate Plan for 2012-16 ‘Your District,Your Future’ when our focus will be towork closely with our partners to:

People • Support vulnerable people• Promote safe and healthy living• Encourage flourishing communities

Place• Keep the district clean and tidy• Protect our environment• Provide green space for all to enjoy

Prosperity• Increase job prospects and support

business• Promote and improve our town centres• Secure appropriate infrastructure and

housing growth

Performance• Provide value for money• Deliver excellent customer service• Improve access for all to our services

Government grants Council Tax Interest and balances

£7.115million

£7.945million

£8.725million

£8.771million

£1.029million

£1.19million

Corporate Managementand Democracy

£3.476million

£3.337million

Homelessness, Planning and Economic

Development

£1.412million

£1.435million

Waste collection, recycling, street

cleansing, parks and car parks

£6.313million

£6.997million

Council Tax collection,housing benefits

administration, parishsupport grant

£2.861million

£3.035million

Leisure services, museums, communitytransport, voluntary sector contributions

£2.853million

£3.056million

2012/13

Key:

2011/12

2012/13

Key:

2011/12


Braintree District Council


Recycling moreOver 40,000 households now have

separate weekly foodwaste collections – so farsaving over 270 tonnesof food from beingdumped in landfill.

Housing helpThis year we saved

200 households fromhomelessness byhelping them stay intheir existing home or findother accommodation.

We also enabled 86 new affordable homesto be built in the district.

Thriving townsWith regeneration plans for Braintree

underway, we launched a package ofmeasures to boost trade in the threetowns – including cheaper parking; betteruse of empty high-street properties; deepcleaning town-centre streets and the 2012‘Loving Your High Street’ awards.

A cleaner districtCustomer satisfaction with

our efforts to make the districtcleaner and keep public land litter-free rose from 64% to 91%.

A better later life With NHS Mid-

Essex, we produced a‘Mini guide for olderpeople’ showingwhere to get helpwith everything fromresidential care tomanaging heating bills. Over 5,000 guideswere delivered to older people across thedistrict.

Jubilee oaksTo commemorate

Queen Elizabeth’s 2012Diamond Jubilee, a freecelebration oak tree wasgiven to parishes andwards as part of ourGreen Heart of Essexcampaign.

Cutting our carbon footprintWe continue to help homeowners

save water, insulate their homes and seekfinancial help for green energy. Wealso cut carbon emissions and reduced therunning costs of our council officesby introducing energy-savingmeasures.

Your money was spent on running over100 services in the district – from providing allotments and collecting waste to giving benefits advice and street cleaning.

Other highlights of the year included:

Your free A -Z guide isenclosed giving details of all our services.

WELL DONE! We hit a record60% recycling ratein September PR

OJECT

GRE

ENHEART

PR

OJECT

GRE

ENHEART

PR

OJECT

GRE

ENHEART

Where your money went in 2011/12


In 2012/13look out for:backing our townsThis four-year programme of town-centreimprovements in Witham, Halstead andBraintree gives focus to supportingbusiness, attracting new retailers andtempting more people back into thetowns. We also aim to boost businessenterprise with easy access to advice andmentoring; new start-up business units andimprove broadband speeds.

New leisure centre Construction of the leisure centre atWitham will get underway this year, readyfor opening in 2013. It will have a six-lane25m pool, learner pool, fitness suite,dance studio, sauna and steam room,and squash courts.

Helping vulnerable peopleA range of new initiatives will include:• support to tackle fuel poverty and

help reduce household fuel bills• more help on home adaptations for

people wishing to stay in their own homes• improving the standard of private

rented accommodation.

Fun for childrenWe’ll be refurbishing four more play areasin Braintree, Witham and Halstead withnew play equipment and safety features.

New affordable homesWe are working with our partners toprovide an average of 100 new affordablehomes each year over the next four years.Already 50 new affordable homes areplanned for construction in 2012/13 inBraintree and Great Bardfield.

Local investmentOver the next four years, we’ve set aside £½ million to allow us to invest in a rangeof local groups, organisations andindividuals who have the vision to takeforward new ideasto improve theirlocal communities.

Green Heart of Essex This popular campaign to make thedistrict cleaner and greener will continue.This year our focus will be on cleanertown centres, helping more people enjoygreen space, cutting our carbonemissions andincreasing recycling.

Good localservices – stillonly £3 a weekWe’ve frozen our part of the CouncilTax and reduced our costs to ensurewe can continue to deliver over 100local services every day for just£3.13* per household per week. * Based on an average band D property

Who pays Council Tax?At least one person in each household isresponsible for paying Council Tax, whetherthey own the home or rent it. In most casesthe person (or people) aged 18 or over whowill be responsible for paying Council Tax are:

• owner-occupiers

• leaseholders

• people who pay rent

• people who have a licence to occupy, such as people who live in tied cottages(housing relating to their work)

• people such as squatters, who live in theproperty but have no legal interest in it(that is, they don’t own or rent it)

• people who own the property but don’tlive in it.

People living together such as tenants,married people or civil partners, can bejointly or separately responsible for the wholeCouncil Tax for their property.

AppealsYou can appeal to us if you think you shouldpay less Council Tax, or none at all, forexample, because:

• you do not live in or own the property

• you feel the property should be exempt

• you believe we have made a mistakeworking out your bill

• you feel we should have given you adiscount, or

• we have not reduced your bill because youor someone you live with has a disability.

If you appeal, you must continue to pay yourCouncil Tax until your appeal is decided. If your appeal is successful, we will give youback any Council Tax you have overpaid.

What is Council Tax?Council Tax is what local authorities charge to raise money to pay for their services. Almostevery household has to pay it, whether your home is a house, bungalow, flat, maisonette,mobile home or houseboat, and whether you own or rent. The amount you pay dependson the valuation band in which the Valuation Office has placed your home. Your bill showsthe band. Each property is in one of eight bands depending on how much it was worth on1 April 1991. Band A is the lowest band and band H is the highest. This chart shows thevaluation bands.

If you think your home should be in a different valuation band, please write to The Valuation Office Agency, 34 Southway,Colchester CO2 7BB. Alternatively you can email them at [email protected], phone on 03000 501501 or fax on 03000 506022. They will tell you your rights and how to appeal if you are entitled to do so.


A Less than £40,001 £108.54 £724.50 £91.14 £44.28B £40,001 to £52,000 £126.63 £845.25 £106.33 £51.66C £52,001 to £68,000 £144.72 £966.00 £121.52 £59.04D £68,001 to £88,000 £162.81 £1086.75 £136.71 £66.42E £88,001 to £120,000 £198.99 £1328.25 £167.09 £81.18F £120,001 to £160,000 £235.17 £1569.75 £197.47 £95.94G £160,001 to £320,000 £271.35 £1811.25 £227.85 £110.70H More than £320,000 £325.62 £2173.50 £273.42 £132.84

Valuationband

Value of property on 1 April 1991

BraintreeDistrict tax rate

Essex County tax rate

Essex Police tax rate

Essex Fire &Rescue Service

tax rate

Exempt propertiesCouncil Tax is not payable on ‘exemptproperties’. These include properties livedin only by:• students• people who have a severe mental

difficulty, or • people aged under 18.

Empty properties are exempt if they:• are not furnished (exempt for up to six

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

six months)• need or are having structural alterations

or major repairs (exempt for up to a year)• are left empty by someone who is in

prison• are left empty by someone who has

moved to give someone else personalcare, or has moved to receive personalcare

• are waiting for probate or letters ofadministration to be granted (aftersomeone has died) and for up to sixmonths after the probate or letters aregranted

• have been repossessed • are the responsibility of a trustee on

behalf of someone who is bankrupt• are owned or leased by foreign

diplomats• have no-one allowed to live in them by

law, or• are waiting to be lived in by a minister of

religion.Forces barracks and married quarters arealso exempt. People living there contributeto the cost of local services through aspecial arrangement with us.

DiscountsYour Council Tax bill assumes two adultsare living in your household. If you are the only adult living there (asyour main home), we will reduce your billby 25%. If your property is furnished andno-one lives there as their main home, wewill reduce the bill by 10%.When we look at the number of adultsliving in a property, we do not count:• full-time students, student nurses,

apprentices and youth trainees• people who live in hospital• people who are being looked after in

care homes• people who are severely mentally

disabled• people staying in some hostels or night

shelters• 18- and19-year-olds who are at or have

just left school• care workers working for low pay,

(usually for a charity)• people caring for someone with a

disability who is not their partner, or theirchild (a child is someone under 18)

• members of visiting forces and someinternational institutions

• diplomats and their husbands or wives(who are not British)

• monks and nuns, and• people in prison (except people who are

in prison for not paying their Council Taxor a fine relating to their Council Tax).

If you think your property should beexempt from Council Tax or you shouldpay a reduced rate, please contact us.You must tell us straight away aboutanything that could affect an exemptionor discount you receive.


Council Tax Benefit

Council Tax Benefit means that people whoget Income Support or Guarantee PensionCredit do not normally pay Council Tax andthat other people on low incomes pay lessCouncil Tax.

Second Adult Rebate can reduce your bill ifyou do not have a partner but share yourhome with one or more other adults whoare on low incomes.

We also pay Housing Benefit to helppeople pay their rent.

Make a claim as soon as you need help.Don’t delay as you will lose money.

Claim by:

• Completing an on-line benefit claimform. It can be found atwww.braintree.gov.uk and by followingthe Benefits link from the home page

• Phoning us on 01376 557888, or• The Pension Service on 0845 606 0265

if you are of pension age (60 or over).All benefits and rebates you are entitled toshould be listed on your Council Tax bill.Please tell us if you think you qualify forhelp to pay your Council Tax and it is notshown on your bill, or if you need moreinformation.Write to us at: Benefits Service, Causeway House, Braintree, Essex CM7 9HB.

E-mail: [email protected]

Come and see us at Braintree DistrictCouncil, Causeway House, Braintree,Essex CM7 9HB.

Visit our website www.braintree.gov.uk formore information and to use our onlineservices.

Remember, if we reduce your Council Taxbill or you are getting Housing Benefit, youmust tell us in writing as soon as yourcircumstances change.

People with disabilities

You may be entitled to pay less Council Taxif you or someone who lives with you has aroom or extra space, or an extra bathroomor kitchen, or uses a wheelchair in yourproperty, to meet special needs relating toa disability. We will reduce your bill by putting yourhome in the valuation band below the oneit is now in. (For example, if your home is inband C, we will put it in band B.) If yourhome is in band A, we will reduce your billby the difference between the amountscharged for bands A and B.This means that people with disabilities don’t have to pay more Council Tax for theextra space they need.

Data protection statement:fair processing notice

The Council may share information internally and with other agencies, if needed, to carry out its legal functions efficiently. If you do not wish your data to be shared, please write to The Data Controller, Braintree District Council, Causeway House,Braintree, Essex CM7 9HB.

Braintree District Council has a duty toprotect the public funds it administers, sowe may use information you provide for theprevention and detection of fraud.Information may also be shared with otherbodies responsible for auditing oradministering public funds for thesepurposes. For further information, seewww.braintree.gov.uk/Braintree/councildemocracy/National+Fraud+Initiative

Stop Fraud Now!phone 0800 7811355



Alphamstone

Ashen

Bardfield Saling

Belchamp Otten

Belchamp St Paul

Belchamp Walter

Birdbrook

Black Notley

Borley

Bradwell

Braintree

Bulmer

Bures Hamlet

Castle Hedingham

Coggeshall

Colne Engaine

Cressing

Earls Colne

Fairstead

Faulkbourne

Feering

Finchingfield

15.84

31.23

0.00

12.71

18.06

44.57

66.54

51.10

23.48

40.46

0.00

17.33

75.39

48.07

87.58

54.55

39.59

39.85

33.54

40.91

43.06

54.66

Town or parish Band D Town or parish Band D Town or parish Band D

Foxearth

Gestingthorpe

Gosfield

Great Bardfield

Great Henny

Great Maplestead

Great Notley

Great Saling

Great Yeldham

Greenstead Green

Halstead

Hatfield Peverel

Helions Bumpstead

Kelvedon

Lamarsh

Liston

Little Henny

Little Maplestead

Little Yeldham

Middleton

Ovington

Panfield

32.81

26.46

48.08

48.21

18.43

20.11

19.49

32.78

65.38

14.93

33.51

29.05

62.34

56.09

15.84

32.81

18.43

23.58

21.41

18.43

21.41

33.90

Pebmarsh

Pentlow

Rayne

Ridgewell

Rivenhall

Shalford

Sible Hedingham

Silver End

Stambourne

Steeple Bumpstead

Stisted

Sturmer

Terling

Tilbury Juxta Clare

Toppesfield

Twinstead

Wethersfield

White Colne

White Notley

Wickham St Paul

Witham

34.05

37.60

37.62

46.04

32.06

35.77

60.66

45.19

19.66

51.39

33.43

21.61

33.54

21.41

53.70

18.43

43.66

46.84

40.91

80.58

52.77

2011/12 £ 2012/13 £

Witham Town CouncilCommunity support (including provision for two Police CommunitySupport Officers) 76,000 73,000Provision of services:

Community 206,099 176,384Environment 276,016 284,195 Resources 98,570 98,210 Net expenditure: 656,685 631,789 Taken from reserves -173,836 -137,880 Grant from Braintree District Council -19,009 -19,009 Other income -15,000 -25,000 Amount required from Witham Council taxpayers 448,840 449,900

Coggeshall Parish CouncilVillage Hall 19,550 21,800 Provision of services and grants 93,470 93,644Administration 52,575 55,000 Loan repayment 6,189 6,189 Net expenditure: 171,784 176,633 Grant from Braintree District Council -12,097 -12,097 Other income -920 -1,130 Addition to reserves 5,213 2,214 Amount required from Coggeshall Council taxpayers 163,980 165,620

What your Parish or Town Council receivesThe table below shows each Parish Council’s Council Tax requirement (how much they need), based on a band D charge.Parish and Town Councils need extra money to pay for things like community centres, footpaths and extra street lighting. If the Parish or Town Council raises more than £140,000 from its local taxpayers, it must publish information about its spending plans, as shown here.

2011/12 £ 2012/13 £

Essex County Council


This has been one of the toughest financialyears for local government, and thedifficult times will continue into the nextyear and beyond. Essex County Councilhas worked hard to ensure Council Tax isfrozen for another year, as we know theeconomic situation is also difficult for ourresidents and local businesses.

For several years, we have beentransforming the way we do things andby 2013 we will have saved over £330million. This has put us in a goodposition to meet the challenges we faceand also continue to provide servicesresidents need. This programme willcontinue in order to make more savings.

This year also sees the launch of the newEssexWorks Corporate Vision, which wedeveloped after public consultation. Ithighlights the county council’s prioritiesand challenges for the coming years. Ourvision statement is:

Essex means business. We want to be avibrant place where every individual andcommunity has the opportunity to growand reach their potential, and play a partin our county’s success.

As part of this, the key priorities for thenext five years are:

� Enabling each individual to achieve theirambitions by supporting a world-classeducation and skills offer in the county

� Securing the highways, infrastructureand environment to enable businessesto grow

� Improving public health and wellbeing

� Protecting and safeguardingvulnerable people

� Giving people a greater say and agreater role in building safer andstronger communities.

Essex County Council wants to seeresidents playing an active role in theircommunity. As we work together, we willground our actions in the followingprinciples:

� Putting our residents first: We willalways strive to champion Essexresidents and communities, ensuringthey have access to high-quality andinnovative public services, and makingthe best use of taxpayers’ money.

� Increasing choice: Essex CountyCouncil will put more choice andcontrol in the hands of citizens andcommunities, whether through directpayments, personal budgets or bygiving people direct choice over theservices they receive.

www.essex.gov.uk | 13

� Delivering value for money: We willnever forget that we are stewards oftaxpayers’ money. We will deliver thebest possible value for money byimproving efficiency. We will live withinour means and keep Council Tax low.

Working to these principles will bring arange of benefits to both our residentsand Essex County Council. We will besetting up an improved customer servicecentre enabling residents to contact usand get the information they needquickly and easily. We’ve also invested inour online communications and, fromApril, we’ll post all our publications onour website in a dedicated area:www.essex.gov.uk/publications

For more about what we have deliveredin the past year and our plans for theyear ahead, go to www.essex.gov.uk

� Promoting local decision-making:Our approach will transfer power tothose who have greatest interest ingetting decisions right and allowEssex’s diverse communities to shapelocal services to meet local needs.

� Improving outcomes: We will ensurethat citizens and communities get theservices they need at best value forthe taxpayer. This will mean working inpartnership with a diverse range ofservice providers across the public,private and voluntary sectors.

� Taking action early: It is vital that thepublic services tackle problems beforethey become difficult and costly to address,and blight people’s lives. Individuals,families, and communities have animportant role in taking responsibilityfor what happens in their area.

£m £m2011/12 2012/13

Total expenditure1 2,096 2,144Income and grants (1,232) (1,288)Budget requirement 864 856This is paid for by:Collection fund (1) 1(surplus)/deficitFormula grant2 (284) (275)Council Tax (579) (582)requirementTotal funding (864) (856)

Council TaxThe Essex County Council charge for aband D property has been set at£1,086.75 for 2012/13, the same as2011/12 and also 2010/11.

The tax base (number of homes) forCouncil Tax purposes has increased by0.51% to 535,184 in 2012/13 providingCouncil Tax income of £582 million.

Financial overviewThis year we plan to spend £2.1 billion ondelivering services. Some of this will besupported by grants for specific purposesand other income including fees andcharges, leaving a net budget requirementof £856 million. In addition to this there isa requirement to cover a £1m deficit onthe Council Tax collection fund.

These requirements will be met by formulagrant of £275 million, and a Council Taxof £582 million, calculated as follows.

1 Includes payments we have to make to the EnvironmentAgency (£1.4 million), Lee Valley Regional Park (£1.7 million)and Kent & Essex Inshore Fisheries & ConservationAuthority (£0.4 million).2 This is distributed by the Government using a national formula;there are no restrictions on what we can spend this on.

Band £ Band £A 724.50 E 1,328.25B 845.25 F 1,569.75C 966.00 G 1,811.25D 1,086.75 H 2,173.50

£511m

£319m

£45m£975m

£71m£24m

£9m

Total: £2,144m

Adults Health and CommunityWellbeingChildren’s ServicesCommunities and PlanningCorporate ServicesEcon Devt and Waste and RecyclingEducation and 2012 GamesEnvironment and CultureHighways and TransportationOther Operating CostsProcurement Property and ProjectsPolicy and Strategy Services

This year’s budget is an apparent decreaseof £8 million on last year’s budget. This isdue to increases in some specificgovernment grants.

Gross expenditure onservices £m


£132m£39m£3m£16m

Capital investmentCreating new assets and improving ourexisting ones is vital. However, in light ofthe pressures on the public finances, wehave had to form new priorities for ourcapital programme. As a result, we haveset an overall capital programme of £135million for 2012/13 (see chart below)compared with £174 million for 2011/12.The council has also secured significantadditional grants for fundinginfrastructure investment in Essex.

2012/13 Capital expenditure

Education – improving the learningenvironmentMaintaining, improving and updatingour transport infrastructure andreducing congestionOther major projects

We will continue to invest in education:£41 million this year despite the difficulteconomic conditions. In 2012 two newreplacement primary schools will open,one each in Takeley and Stansted. Bothschools will be environmentally friendlywith energy-efficient and sustainablebuildings, and provide much improvedlearning conditions. There will also besubstantial investment in Colchester,Epping and Harlow primary schools tocater for the rising number of children.

www.essex.gov.uk | 15

A new skills campus will open this year inCanvey Island and work will begin on amuch-needed replacement building forWoodlands School in Basildon. Bothbuildings will provide efficient and modernlearning facilities and the new skills campuswill provide opportunities for new learningexperiences outside of a typical curriculum.

From our continued discussions withlocal residents and businesses, it is clearthat spending on the county’s highwaysand transport infrastructure remains apriority. This year we will be investing £53million on major transport schemes tohelp economic growth and regenerationacross the county, including thecompletion of the A13/A130 Sadler’sFarm junction.

For more about Council Tax and theservices Essex County Council supports,go to www.essex.gov.uk/counciltax

£41m

£53m£41m

Essex Police Authority


Essex Police Authority Council Tax –details for 2012/13

Essex Police Authority oversees thedelivery of an effective and efficientpolice service throughout the county ofEssex – the areas covered by EssexCounty Council and the unitaryauthorities in Southend and Thurrock.The police service is funded from twomain sources – part of the Council Taxcharged on all residential properties inEssex and central government grant.

These pages set out how Essex PoliceAuthority will fund and maintain thepolicing services delivered by EssexPolice in 2012/13. The budget will supportthe Force in fulfilling its vision to protect,help and serve everyone in Essex andmake our communities even safer.

This is a time of major economic change,so the coming year and beyond will beextremely challenging. Our aim remains

to deliver a high level of service whilemanaging significant funding cuts. Thescale of the cuts will inevitably mean areduction in officers and staff. However,we are reorganising our policing toimprove efficiency and productivity,reducing costs wherever possible. Thisapproach allows the Force and Authorityto redirect resources towards prioritiessuch as serious crime and publicprotection.

In addition, the Force will contributesignificantly to the safety of the 2012London Olympic and Paralympic Games.The county has an Olympic venue atHadleigh Castle, the Torch Relay andthree training camps, which will mean asignificant increase in visitors to Essex.

Policing priorities for2012/13Essex Police Authority and Essex Policehave sought your views and concernsthrough consultation. These are reflectedin the Policing Plan for 2012/13. The plansets out local policing priorities for thecoming year and shows how – togetherwith our partners – we will achieve them.

Essex Police will continue to focus onreducing crime and tackling anti-socialbehaviour, while working to increase thenumber of crimes solved. We will alsostrive to make our roads safer andreduce the number of people killed orseriously injured.

www.essex.police.uk | 17

Public safety remains at the heart of ourbusiness, so we will continue to work inpartnership with other forces andagencies to build on our capability totackle serious crime and dangerousoffenders.

During the coming year we will beworking to improve the level of publicsatisfaction by consistently delivering aquality policing service that meets theneeds of individuals and our localcommunities.

Summary ofperformance againstour 2011/12 prioritiesSome types of crime have risen, butEssex remains a very safe county. FromApril to December 2011, compared tothe same period the previous year,incidents of anti-social behaviour fell by10.3% while criminal damage fell by8.4%. There was also a 4% drop inserious violent crimes.

Over the same period the number ofpeople killed or seriously injured on ourroads fell by 13.2%.

Essex Police has made significantprogress in reducing the threat of harmto our communities by tacklingorganised crime and serious offenders.We have also seized funds and assetsworth over £2.8 million from thoseinvolved in criminal activity.

After 31 March 2012 you can find outmore about policing priorities for thecoming year in the full Policing Plan for2012/13 on the Essex Police website atwww.essex.police.uk.

Public sector equalityduty The duty requires public bodies to have‘due regard’ to equality in carrying out itsbusiness functions. This means taking aproactive approach to understanding theneeds of staff and service users (andpotential users), understanding theimpact of our business policies,procedures and decisions on differentpeople, delivering fair and appropriateservices, and promoting equality. You canvisit our website for our ‘EqualityInformation Report’, which shows howEssex Police has complied with the duty.


2011/12 2012/13 Cost per head (£millions) (£millions) of population

(in £)Net expenditure 284.08 269.86Less: use of balances (15.13) (7.92)Budget requirement 268.95 261.94 147.35Financed by:Home Office Grant 117.61 109.53Revenue Support Grant and Business Rates 65.69 63.61Council Tax requirement 85.32 88.73Surplus on Collection Fund 0.33 0.07

Essex Police Authority planned spending

Funding the plan The budget below shows how EssexPolice Authority will fund the policingservices in 2012/13. Its commitments areshown in the Essex Policing Plan.

Budgeting for policingEssex Police Authority has approved abudget of £262 million for the Force.With Government grant funding of £173million, the balance of £89 million has tobe met by Council Tax receipts. Thisrequires a Council Tax increase of 3.47%(a rise of 9p a week for a band Dproperty).

Rising costs of contractsand unavoidable costpressuresThe 2012/13 revenue budget includes arise of £1.3m in the cost of existingcontracts and new cost pressures.

Budget savings In 2012/13, budget savings of £15 millionare needed to meet cost increases and areduction in a number of Governmentgrants. All the budget savings have beenidentified.

www.essex.police.uk | 19

LoansAs at 31 March 2012, the Essex Police Authority has no external debt.

Council Tax 2012/13Band D is used as the base for calculating the tax. The equivalent number of band Dproperties in Essex is 649,002. To raise Council Tax income of £88.725 million, aCouncil Tax (Band D) of £136.71 is needed. The other seven bands are fixed in directproportion to band D:

Band A £91.14 Band C £121.52 Band E £167.09 Band G £227.85Band B £106.33 Band D £136.71 Band F £197.47 Band H £273.42

Staff numbers (full-time equivalent) Estimated provision in budget 2011/12 2012/13

Police officers 3,443 3,321Police community support officers 362 362Police staff 1,964 1,825Special constables 600 620

The staffing figures for 2012/13 reflect the estimated budget provision by 31 March 2013.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service


Making certain every decisioncountsEssex County Fire and Rescue Servicecontinues to face one of the biggestfinancial challenges in our long historybut we are weathering the storm, makingsavings while still striving for progress.

Through prudent financial managementand doing some things differently, we are preparing for the expected austeritymeasures while continuing to invest inthe frontline services that keep Essexfamilies safe.

Decisions implemented now will help usin future years as the Government’sComprehensive Spending Review takeseffect. Our aim is to meet our financialtargets with minimal impact on thosewho live, work or travel through Essex.

Essex Fire Authority has met itscommitments that there will be no firestation closures, no reduction in thenumber of fire appliances responding to

emergencies, and a guarantee of jobsecurity for the dedicated workforce thatdelivers our frontline operational services.

We have successfully changed ourcrewing arrangements at Canvey IslandFire Station, where the two fire appliancesare now crewed by retained (part-time)firefighters. These crews are available toprotect the public round the clock.

We are progressing well with ourrecruitment and training of retainedfirefighters so that we can changearrangements at Brentwood Fire Station.Our plan is to move from two wholetimecrewed fire appliances to one wholetimecrewed and one retained-crewed fireappliance.

Emergency calls to the fire station havebeen falling – and across the Countycalls have dropped by an average of 16per cent – partly as a result of ourdecision not to respond to automatic firealarms except where there is a risk to life.

www.essex-fire.gov.uk | 21

So this is a sensible and consideredresponse based on robust data andextensive computer modelling. The decisionwas made by the elected members ofthe Fire Authority based on advice fromsenior fire officers.

Investment in new protective equipmenthas not only given Essex firefighters anew image, gold tunics, new boots,helmets and gloves, but ensured thatthey have the very best personalprotection when called upon to fight afire. Delivered to fire stations in October,this kit was bought under a sharedcontract with other fire and rescueservices in the region. We will benefitfrom annual savings of £100,000. For ourfirefighters, replacement kit is nevermore than two hours away.

While other UK fire and rescue servicesare cutting back, we continue to invest infrontline vehicles and equipment suitablefor a modern fire and rescue service. Wenow have five new aerial ladder platforms,two incident command units, a welfareunit, foam units, a specialist animal rescueunit, and two new water units and boatsas part of a swift water rescue response.

Through an agreement with SpartanRescue we have access to a £1.4m fleetof sophisticated vehicles, equipment andpersonnel. The vehicles provide us withextra back-up in the event of acatastrophe such as major widespreadflooding, as seen in other parts of the UKin recent years.

Plans for a new emergency ControlCentre at our Kelvedon Park headquartersmove on apace. This is where 999 callsare received and our crews are mobilisedfrom, so it is at the heart of our frontlineresponse. The Fire Authority believes it isimportant to keep this operation in Essexrather than follow the lead of other fireand rescue services that have outsourcedit to neighbouring organisations.

We have been criticised for deciding tospend millions of pounds on IT. But amodern fire and rescue service cannotrely on carbon copies, pens and pencils.So this is crucial spending designed toestablish a strong and resilient networkthat can deliver crucial facts to the sceneof incidents. It also enables us tomanage our data so that we can focusresources on areas that need them most,as well as managing and recording suchthings as hours worked, sickness absence,shift patterns and course bookings. Forexample, the ‘electronic rota book’ alonewill help us save millions of pounds.


Like the rest of Essex, our people areeagerly awaiting the Olympics . As oneof the biggest sporting occasions the UKhas ever seen, it brings increased risk.Though Essex will host only one formalevent, the Games will bring thousands ofextra visitors here to use our airports,docks, roads, hotels and shoppingcentres, and we have to make sure weare ready if any emergency arises. Weare working with our partner agencies tomake sure the County’s safety is notcompromised.

Smoke alarm couldsave your lifeYou wouldn’t dream oftravelling in a car without aseat belt, yet every night thousands offamilies in the County switch out the lightsand go to sleep without a smoke alarm.

It may be because they think firehappens to someone else or perhapsbecause they don’t understand that thebest way to protect their family is to fit asmoke alarm. Whatever the reason, asmoke alarm could actually save their life– or yours.

A smoke alarm gives valuable earlywarning and enables you and your familyto flee before you are overcome by toxicsmoke.

Smoke alarms are relatively cheap andeasy to fit yourself. While you’reprotecting yourself, think about elderlyrelatives and neighbours who mightneed one too.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Servicewill conduct free home fire safety visitsfor vulnerable people such as the elderlyor families with young children. You canrecommend a friend, neighbour or familymember for one of these visits. To see ifyou are eligible, call 0845 601 2495.

Band £ Band £

A 44.28 E 81.18

B 51.66 F 95.94

C 59.04 G 110.70

D 66.42 H 132.84

Zero council tax increaseHouseholds will be paying about£1.27 a week in 2012/13 for fireservices.

The cost of providing our services in2012/13 will be £77.279m. There willbe no Council Tax increase fromEssex Fire Authority this year as theGovernment has provided a specificgrant to compensate for the CouncilTax freeze.

The Fire Authority charges a separateamount of Council Tax for propertiescovered by Essex County Counciland the two unitary authorities ofSouthend and Thurrock.

To raise the money we need, we willcharge a Council Tax of £66.42 for anaverage Band D property. We believethis is excellent value for money.What do you think? Visit our website:www.essex-fire.gov.uk and completeour customer survey, or write [email protected].

Essex County Fire and RescueService planned spending

Changes in the budget requirementfor 2012/13

£ thousands

2011/12 2012/13

Gross expenditure 78,066 80,777Income -2,701 -3,498

Budget requirement 75,365 77,279

Financed by:Revenue support grant 7,630 650Business rates 24,685 33,526Collection fund surplus 158 -4Council Tax requirement 42,892 43,107

Total financing 75,365 77,279

The Essex Fire Authority has approved thefollowing budget.

£ thousands

2011/12 75,365

Inflation 446

Other changes 1,468

2012/13 budget requirement 77,279

www.essex-fire.gov.uk | 23

Our corporate plan and annual reportprovide information about our performanceand our plans for the future. Both areavailable on our website. If you are unable toaccess the internet, printed copies (includinglarge print, braille and other languages) are available on request [email protected]. Fromsummer 2012, printed copies will be availablein your local fire station or library.

Doing more with lessWe are working on plans to share ourproperties with partner agencies ina bid to make best use of our assets.Essex Police have already moved inat Tiptree, West Mersea and WivenhoeFire Stations and the Coastguardhas made its base at SouthWoodham Ferrers Fire Station.In Southend, our new pilot schemeuses trained volunteers from theSouthend Association of VoluntaryServices to help elderly and vulnerablepeople by making home fire safetyvisits and fitting smoke alarms.In Newport and Coggeshall,firefighters are putting their effortsinto a new scheme supporting theAmbulance Service as first responders.This means firefighters are alerted atthe same time as the AmbulanceService. All those taking part havereceived special training andequipment from the AmbulanceService. And because they live andwork in the community, they are morelikely to reach a casualty quickerthan a team coming from outside.With all the emergency serviceshaving to find ways of doing morewith less, schemes like this makeperfect sense. This is particularlytrue in rural areas where those usedto responding in emergenciescan expand their expertise andcould help to save more lives.

For every tree used to make our paper, another is planted.

More informationWant to know more about our services?

Write to:Braintree District CouncilCauseway House, BraintreeCM7 9HB.

� Office opening hours 9am to 5pmMonday to Friday

� Telephone opening hours 8.30am to 5pm Monday to Friday

� For Council Tax billing enquiries01376 557722 [email protected]

� For Council Tax late-payment enquiries01376 557722 [email protected]

� For Council Tax Benefit enquiries01376 557852 [email protected]

� To use the 24/7 automated payment line01376 557894

� For general enquiries/emergency helpout of office hours 01376 552525or call into Causeway House.

www.braintree.gov.uk


Write to:Essex County CouncilFreepost CL3636Chelmsford CM1 1LX.

www.essex.gov.uk

Email: [email protected]

Phone:� 08457 430 430, or� 08457 585 592 if you are hard of hearing.

Our main office is at: County Hall, Market Road, Chelmsford CM1 1LX.

Read our online magazine atwww.essex.gov.uk/ew

Follow us on Essex_CC

Find us onwww.facebook.com/essexcountycouncil

Find information relevant to you atwww.essex.gov.uk/publications

For more about our services visit our website.

Write to:Essex County Fire and Rescue ServiceKelvedon Park, Rivenhall,Witham, Essex CM8 3HB.

Email: [email protected]

Phone:

� 01376 576125.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service visits the homes of vulnerablepeople free of charge to give youadvice about fire safety and to fitsmoke alarms. Phone 0845 601 2495 to see if you qualify or for more safetyinformation.

You can find out more about our services by visiting our website.

www.essex-fire.gov.uk

For further information about Essex Police and Essex PoliceAuthority please visitwww.essex.police.uk andwww.essex.police.uk/authority.

www.essex.police.uk

Or you can call Essex Police 24 hours a day on:101 – for non-emergencies from a landline 0300 333 4444 – for non-emergencies from a mobile999 – for emergencies only.

If you want more detailed financial information, please contact the Financial Services department at police headquarters:

PO Box 2, Springfield Chelmsford, EssexCM2 6DA.Phone: 01245 452615Fax: 01245 452568Email: [email protected]

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