I am, I admit, a bit annoyed, as Mid Suffolk District Council required three attempts to correctly calculate our council tax base this year, here in Creeting St Peter, and, as a result, the precept increase is much higher than we had planned. Given that we had already set our precept, and that the deadline for doing so had passed when the new figures became available, I wondered what effect this might have. Luckily, Ros was curious too...
Baroness Scott of Needham Market (Liberal Democrat)
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in the event of a parish council tax base being altered by the district council after the precept had been set, and the resulting percentage increase in precept exceeding the threshold for triggering a referendum, such a referendum would be required.
Baroness Hanham (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Communities and Local Government; Conservative)
Local precepting authorities are not included in the council tax referendum principles for 2013-14, which were approved by the House of Commons on 13 February 2013, therefore such authorities will not be required to hold a referendum for any precept increase relating to that financial year. No decisions have been taken on referendum principles in respect of subsequent financial years.
This was, I admit, a pretty stupid answer, as the question didn't refer to this year, but was exploring the underlying principle. We all know that we're excluded from the referendum provision this year, but as Eric (the menace) Pickles is holding the threat of future referenda over us, I'd like to know where we stand.
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