The Council Tax (Reduction Scheme) and (Demand Notices Transitional Provisions) (Wales) Regulations 2000

Welsh Statutory Instruments

2000 No. 501 (W.21)

COUNCIL TAX, WALES

The Council Tax (Reduction Scheme) and (Demand Notices Transitional Provisions) (Wales) Regulations 2000

Made

2nd March 2000

Coming into force

11th March 2000

The National Assembly for Wales makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred on the Secretary of State by sections 13, 113(1) and (2) and 116(1) of and paragraphs 1 and 2(4) of Schedule 2 to the Local Government Finance Act 1992(1) and of all other powers enabling the Secretary of State in that behalf which are now vested in the National Assembly for Wales so far as exercisable in Wales(2):

Part I General

Citation, commencement and application

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Council Tax (Reduction Scheme) and (Demand Notices Transitional Provisions) (Wales) Regulations 2000 and shall come into force on 11th March 2000.

(2) These regulations apply to Wales only

Part II Reduction Scheme

Interpretation

2.—(1) In these Regulations–

• “the Act” (“y Ddeddf”) means the Local Government Finance Act 1992 and “section 10” (“adran 10”), “section 11” (“adran 11”) and “section 12” (“adran 12”) mean section 10 of the Act, section 11 of the Act and section 12 of the Act respectively;

• “the 1994 Act” (“Deddf 1994”) means the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994(3);

• “the Benefit Regulations” (“y Rheoliadau Budd-dâl”) means the Council Tax Benefit (General) Regulations 1992(4);

• “county” (“sir”) means a county in Wales established under the 1994 Act;

• “county borough” (“bwrdeistref sirol”) means a county borough in Wales established under the 1994 Act; and

• “the Disabilities Regulations” (“y Rheoliadau Anableddau”) means the Council Tax (Reduction for Disabilities) Regulations 1992(5).

(2) In these Regulations “community area” (“ardal gymunedol”) means an area which is co-extensive with the area of a community as at 1st January 2000; and a community area identified in the Schedule to these Regulations by the name of a community in a county or county borough means the area which is co-extensive with the area of that community on 1st January 2000.

(3) In these Regulations, in relation to an amount a person is liable to pay in respect of council tax –

• Subject to regulation 3(2) below “the appropriate reduction” (“gostyngiad priodol”) means the sum (if any) prescribed in the Schedule to these Regulations in relation to the relevant community area and the relevant valuation band;

• “the relevant community area” (“yr ardal gymunedol berthnasol”) means the community area in which the relevant chargeable dwelling is situated;

• “the relevant chargeable dwelling” (“yr annedd daladwy berthnasol”) means the chargeable dwelling in respect of which the person is liable to pay the amount; and

• subject to regulation 3(3) below and except where regulation 3(2) below applies, “the relevant valuation band” (“y band prisio perthnasol”) means the valuation band shown as applicable to the relevant chargeable dwelling in the billing authority’s valuation list.

(4) In these Regulations any reference to a person who is liable to pay to a billing authority, in respect of a relevant chargeable dwelling, an amount in respect of council tax (whether that person’s liability is sole, or joint and several), includes, unless the context otherwise requires, a reference to a person who in the opinion of the authority will be so liable; and references to the amount which a person is liable to pay shall be construed accordingly.

Reductions for the purposes of the Disabilities Regulations

3.—(1) In paragraphs (2) and (3) an eligible person means an eligible person for the purposes of the Disabilities Regulations.

(2) In these Regulations where a person who is an eligible person is liable to pay council tax in respect of a dwelling listed in valuation band A, the appropriate reduction shall be the amount shown in the column headed A* in the Schedule to these Regulations

(3) Where a person who is an eligible person is liable to pay council tax in respect of a dwelling listed in a valuation band other than valuation band A, any reference to the relevant valuation band shall be construed as a reference to the alternative valuation band applicable in that person’s case for the purposes of regulation 4 of the Disabilities Regulations

Calculation of amount payable

4.  –

(1) Subject to paragraph (4) below, where–

(a) a person is liable to pay an amount (“the amount”) to a billing authority in respect of council tax for a day in the financial year beginning on 1st April 2000,

(b) the amount is determined under section 10, and

(c) the relevant chargeable dwelling is situated in a community area referred to in the Schedule to these Regulations,the amount shall be reduced by deducting from it a sum calculated in accordance with the formula –

where

• R is the appropriate reduction.

(2) If the amount mentioned in sub-paragraph (1)(a) above is determined under section 10 read with section 11 or section 12, the deduction required by paragraph (1) above shall be made from the original amount.

(3) In paragraph (2) above “the original amount” (“swm gwreiddiol”) is the amount which would be determined under section 10 read without section 11 and section 12.

(4) Where a determination awarding council tax benefit under the Benefit Regulations is effective as regards the chargeable dwelling for a day in respect of which a person is liable to pay the amount mentioned in sub-paragraph (1)(a) above in respect of that dwelling, the amount which that person is so liable to pay shall be–

(a) the amount ascertained in accordance with paragraph (1) above, or paragraphs (1) and (2) above, as the case may be, for that day, less

(b) that person’s council tax benefit for that day.

Appeals

5.—(1) Where a billing authority makes a decision relating to the application or operation of these Regulations in relation to an individual, the authority shall, if requested in writing by the person so affected, provide that person with a written statement of its decision and the reason for it; and any such statement shall be sent within 14 days from the date on which it is requested or as soon as is reasonably practicable thereafter.

(2) No appeal may be made to a valuation tribunal in respect of any decision of a billing authority relating solely to the application or operation of these Regulations; but a person aggrieved by such a decision may appeal to a review board appointed by the billing authority and constituted as mentioned in regulation 70(3) of the Benefit Regulations.

Notice of appeal

6.  An appellant shall give notice of appeal under these Regulations in writing to the billing authority within 4 weeks of the date on which the statement referred to in regulation 5(1) above is sent by the billing authority to the appellant.

Procedure for appeals

7.—(1) Regulations 71(2) to (9) and 72(4) and (5) of the Benefit Regulations shall apply with the necessary modifications for the purposes of an appeal under these Regulations as they apply for the purposes of a further review.

(2) A billing authority shall comply with any decision of its review board.

Part III Demand Notices – Transitional Provisions

Demand Notices – Transitional provisions for the financial year beginning 1st April 2000

8.—(1) In these Regulations “the Demand Notices Regulations” (“y Rheoliadau Hysbysiadau Galw am Dalu”) means the Council Tax (Demand Notices) (Wales) Regulations 1993(6).

(2) For the financial year beginning on 1st April 2000 Schedule 1 to the Demand Notices Regulations shall have effect as if–

(a) after paragraph 6(1) there were added the following sub-paragraphs–

“(1A) Where the dwelling to which the notice relates is situated in a community area referred to in the Schedule to the Council Tax (Reduction Scheme) and (Demand Notices Transitional Provisions) (Wales) Regulations 2000 a statement as regards–

(a) the relevant community area, and

(b) the relevant valuation band,

of the amount prescribed in the Schedule to the Council Tax (Reduction Scheme) and (Demand Notices Transitional Provisions) (Wales) Regulations 2000.

(1B) In sub-paragraph (1A) above, “community area” and “the relevant valuation band” have the meanings given in the Council Tax (Reduction Scheme) and (Demand Notices Transitional Provisions) (Wales) Regulations 2000”; and

(b) after paragraph 13 there were added the following paragraph –

“13A.   As regards any case to which regulations made under section 13 of the 1992 Act apply so that the amount required to be paid under the notice is less than it would be apart from those regulations, a statement of the amount of the reduction.”

(2) For the financial year beginning on 1st April 2000 Part I of Schedule 2 to the Demand Notices Regulations shall have effect as if–

(a) after sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph 6 there were added the following sub-paragraph–

“(ba) grant under section 88A of the Local Government Finance Act 1988;” and

(b) in paragraph 15(b), after paragraph (iii) there were added the following paragraph–

“(iiia) a person may be liable to pay an amount in respect of council tax which, by virtue of the provisions of the Council Tax (Reduction Scheme) and (Demand Notices Transitional Provisions) (Wales) Regulations 2000, is less than the amount it would be apart from those Regulations;”.

Signed on behalf of the National Assembly under section 66(1) of the Government of Wales Act 1998(7).

D. Elis Thomas

The Presiding Officer of the National Assembly

2nd March 2000

Regulations 2 and 4

SCHEDULE PRESCRIBED AMOUNTS OF REDUCTION

	Amount prescribed (appropriate reduction) (£)
	Valuation band:
Community area(s)	A*	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
In the county of: THE ISLE OF ANGLESEY: all community areas	3.00	3.60	4.20	4.80	5.40	6.60	7.80	9.00	10.80
In the county borough of BLAENAU GWENT: all community areas	149.55	179.46	209.37	239.28	269.19	329.01	388.83	448.65	538.38
In the county borough of MERTHYR TYDFIL: all community areas	96.65	115.98	135.31	154.64	173.97	212.63	251.29	289.95	347.94
In the county borough of MONMOUTHSHIRE all community areas	3.55	4.26	4.97	5.68	6.39	7.81	9.23	10.65	12.78
In the county borough of NEATH PORT TALBOT: Cilybebyll, Cwmllynfell, Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen, Pontardawe, Ystalyfera	52.15	62.58	73.01	83.44	93.87	114.73	135.59	156.45	187.74
In the county borough of NEATH PORT TALBOT: Blaengwrach, Blaenhonddan, Briton Ferry, Clyne, Coedffranc, Crynant, yffryn Clydach, Glynneath, Neath, Onllwyn, Pelenna, Resolven, Seven Sisters, Tonna	37.55	45.06	52.57	60.08	67.59	82.61	97.63	112.65	135.18
In the county borough of NEATH PORT TALBOT: Aberavon, Baglan, Baglan Bay, Bryn, Cwmavon, Glyncorrwg, Margam, Margam Moors, Port Talbot, Sandfields East, Sandfields West, Tai-bach	38.40	46.08	53.76	61.44	69.12	84.48	99.84	115.20	138.24
In the county borough of RHONDDA CYNON TAFF: Aberaman, Abercynon, Aberdare, Cwmbach, Hirwaun, Llwydcoed, Mountain Ash, Penrhiwceiber, Pen-y-Waun, Rhigos, Ynysybwl	43.05	51.66	60.27	68.88	77.49	94.71	111.93	129.15	154.98
In the county borough of RHONDDA CYNON TAFF: Cwm Clydach, Cymmer, Ferndale, Llwyn-y-pia, Maerdy, Pentre, Pen-y-graig, Porth, Tonypandy, Trealaw, Trehafod, Treherbert, Treorchy, Tylorstown, Ynyshir, Ystrad	33.90	40.68	47.46	54.24	61.02	74.58	88.14	101.70	122.04
In the county borough of RHONDDA CYNON TAFF: Gilfach Goch, Llanharan, Llanharry, Llantrisant, Llantwit Fardre, Pont-y-clun, Pontypridd, Taffs Well, Tonyrefail	52.15	62.58	73.01	83.44	93.87	114.73	135.59	156.45	187.74

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations set out a scheme for reducing the liability of certain individuals in Wales to pay council tax for the financial year beginning 1st April 2000. They also make provision for council tax demand notices, for the same period, to include information as to the effect (where applicable) of the reduction scheme for the year.

Regulation 4 provides for the reduction of a person’s liability to be determined by reference to the appropriate reduction, if any, for the community area and the relevant valuation band for the chargeable dwelling.

Regulations 5 to 7 provide for appeals regarding the application or operation of these Regulations by billing authorities.

Regulation 8 provides for amendments to the Council Tax (Demand Notices) (Wales) Regulations 1993 to specify what information is to be included in council tax demand notices in the year 2000/2001.

The Schedule sets out the community areas in relation to which a reduction is prescribed, together with the appropriate reduction for each council tax valuation band.

(1)

1992 c. 14; see section 116(1) for the definition of prescribed.

(2)

See the National Assembly for Wales (Transfer of Functions) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/672).

(3)

1994 c. 19.

(4)

S.I. 1992/1814; to which amendments have been made which are not relevant to these Regulations.

(5)

S.I. 1992/554; relevant amendments are made by S.I. 1993/195 and S.I. 1999/1004.

(6)

S.I. 1993/255, amended by S.I. 1995/160, S.I. 1996/310 and S.I. 1998/267.

(7)

1998 c. 38.