Local Government, England PART 1 GENERAL Citation and commencement 1 1 These Regulations may be cited as the Local Government (Structural Changes) (Finance) Regulations 2008. 2 These Regulations shall come into force on 24th December 2008. Interpretation 2 In these Regulations— “the 1988 Act ” means the Local Government Finance Act 1988 ; “the 1992 Act ” means the Local Government Finance Act 1992 ; “the 2007 Act ” means the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007; “financial year” means any period of twelve months beginning with 1st April; “first transitional period”, in relation to a preparing council, means the period defined as such in the order which confers functions on the authority; “first year” means the financial year beginning on the reorganisation date; “ Implementation Executive ” means a committee of a preparing council’s executive established in pursuance of an order; “order” means an order under section 7 of the 2007 Act; “preceding year” means the financial year preceding the first year; “preparing council” means a local authority which, in accordance with an order, becomes a single-tier council on the reorganisation date; “relevant authority”, in relation to a reorganised area, means the preparing council or the shadow council (as the case may be); “relevant period”, in relation to a reorganised area, means the period which— begins at the start of the transitional period or the shadow period (as the case may be), and ends immediately before the reorganisation date; “reorganisation date”, in relation to an order, means the date specified in the order as that on which a structural change comes into effect; “reorganised area” means any area which, in accordance with an order, becomes a single-tier area on the reorganisation date ; “second transitional period”, in relation to a preparing council, means the period defined as such in the order which confers functions on the authority; “second year” means the financial year following the first year, “third year” means the financial year following the second year, and so on; “shadow council” means an authority (not being a local authority) which in accordance with an order becomes a local authority on the reorganisation date; “shadow executive”, in relation to a shadow council, means the executive created by the council in accordance with an order; “shadow period”, in relation to a shadow council, means the period defined as such in the order which confers functions on the authority; “single-tier council” means a local authority which on and after the reorganisation date is the sole principal authority for an area; “transitional period” in relation to a preparing council, means the period defined as such in the order which confers functions on the authority; and “valuation list” means a list complied and maintained for a billing authority under Chapter 2 of Part 1 of the 1992 Act. PART 2 RESPONSIBILITY FOR FUNCTIONS Responsibility for functions exercised by a shadow council 3 1 Any function under the 1988 Act which is exercised by a shadow council by virtue of these Regulations shall be the responsibility of the shadow executive. 2 Subject to paragraph (3), any function exercised by a shadow council under Part 4 of these Regulations shall be the responsibility of the authority. 3 In connection with the exercise of the function of making a calculation (whether originally or by way of substitute) in accordance with— a any of sections 32 to 37, 52I and 52T of the 1992 Act, b any of those sections as modified by these Regulations, or c Part 4 of these Regulations, the actions specified in paragraph (4) shall be the responsibility of the shadow executive. 4 The actions are— a the preparation, for submission to the authority for their consideration, of— i estimates of any amounts aggregated in making the calculation (whether originally or by way of substitution), ii estimates of other amounts to be used for the purposes of the calculation, and iii estimates of the calculation; b the reconsideration of those estimates in accordance with the authority’s requirements; and c the submission for the authority’s consideration of revised estimates. Responsibility for functions exercised by a preparing council 4 1 Any function under the 1988 Act which is exercised by a preparing council by virtue of these Regulations shall be the responsibility of the relevant executive. 2 Subject to paragraph (3), any function exercised by a preparing council under Part 4 of these Regulations shall be the responsibility of the authority. 3 Notwithstanding any contrary provision in the Local Authorities (Functions and Responsibilities) (England) Regulations 2000 , in connection with the exercise of the function of making a calculation (whether originally or by way of substitute) in accordance with— a any of sections 32 to 37, 52I and 52T of the 1992 Act, b any of those sections as modified by these Regulations, or c Part 4 these Regulations, the actions specified in paragraph (4) shall be the responsibility of the relevant executive. 4 The actions are— a the preparation, for submission to the authority for their consideration, of— i estimates of any amounts aggregated in making the calculation (whether originally or by way of substitution), ii estimates of other amounts to be used for the purposes of the calculation, and iii estimates of the calculation; b the reconsideration of those estimates in accordance with the authority’s requirements; and c the submission for the authority’s consideration of revised estimates. 5 In this regulation “relevant executive” means— a the Implementation Executive; or b where an order specifies a first and a second transitional period in relation to a preparing council— i the Implementation Executive during the first transitional period, and ii the executive of the preparing council during the second transitional period. Procedure for exercise by preparing councils of certain functions relating to council tax 5 Schedule 1 (which specifies a procedure for the exercise of certain functions relating to council tax where regulation 4(3) applies) has effect. PART 3 EXERCISE OF FUNCTIONS UNDER THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE ACTS 1988 AND 1992 Interpretation 6 In this Part— “local rating list” means a list compiled and maintained for a billing authority under Part 3 of the 1988 Act; “relevant list” means— a local rating list, or a valuation list; and “relevant officer”, in relation to a billing authority, means— in relation to a local rating list, the valuation officer appointed for the authority under section 61(1)(a) of the 1988 Act ; and in relation to a valuation list, the listing officer appointed for the authority under section 20(1) of the 1992 Act. Certain county councils to be billing authorities 7 1 Paragraph (2) applies where the functions of district councils in relation to any area are transferred to a council for a county consisting of that area otherwise than by way of an order under Chapter 1 of Part 1 of the 2007 Act. 2 The county council— a shall, for any financial year beginning at the same time as or after that transfer, be a billing authority for the purposes of Part 1 of the 1992 Act in relation to the area; b shall not, for any such year, be a major precepting authority for those purposes. Exercise of functions 8 In relation to a reorganised area— a during the relevant period— i Part 3 (non-domestic rating) of the 1988 Act, and ii Part 1 (council tax: England and Wales) of the 1992 Act, shall apply in relation to the first year as if the relevant authority were the billing authority for the reorganised area; and b on and after the reorganisation date those Parts shall apply in relation to any financial year before the first year as if the single-tier council were the billing authority for that area. Continuity of functions 9 In relation to a reorganised area, anything done before the reorganisation date— a under Part 3 of the 1988 Act, or b under Part 1 of the 1992 Act, by or in relation to a billing authority shall on and after that date be treated as if it had been done by or in relation to the single-tier council. Relevant lists 10 1 Subject to regulation 11, on and after the reorganisation date the appropriate lists taken as a whole shall constitute (as the case may be)— a the single-tier council’s local rating list, or b the single-tier council’s valuation list. 2 For the purposes of paragraph (1), an appropriate list— a in relation to the single-tier council’s local rating list, is a local rating list insofar as the list shows hereditaments situated in the reorganised area; and b in relation to the single-tier council’s valuation list, is a valuation list insofar as the list shows dwellings situated in the reorganised area. Amalgamation of relevant lists 11 1 At any time after the reorganisation date a single-tier council’s relevant officer may amalgamate a relevant list into a single document. 2 An amalgamated list must include the information which immediately before the amalgamation is in the relevant list, but only insofar as that information is still relevant to the reorganised area. 3 As soon as it is compiled an amalgamated list shall be (as the case may be)— a the single-tier council’s local rating list, or b the single tier council’s valuation list. 4 As soon as reasonably practicable after compiling an amalgamated list, the relevant officer must send a copy of the list to the council. 5 As soon as reasonably practicable after receiving the amalgamated list, the council must— a deposit the list at its principal office, and b take such steps as it thinks most suitable for giving notice of it. PART 4 EQUALISATION OF COUNCIL TAX CHAPTER 1 INTERPRETATION Interpretation 12 1 In this Part— “appropriate authority”, in relation to a reorganised area, means— the relevant authority during the relevant period, or the single-tier council on and after the reorganisation date; “basic amount of council tax”, in relation to a part of an appropriate authority’s area and a financial year, means the amount of that authority’s council tax which will be payable for that year in respect of a dwelling which— is situated in that part, and is listed in valuation band D; “the Council Tax Base Regulations ” means the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 1992 ; “dwelling” has the same meaning as in section 3 (meaning of “dwelling”) of the 1992 Act; “preceding year council tax”, in relation to a predecessor area, means the amount calculated under section 33(1) (basic amount of council tax) of the 1992 Act for the area for the preceding year ; “predecessor area”, in relation to a reorganised area, means any district which is abolished by or in consequence of an order; “principal area”, in relation to a reorganised area, means— in relation to the first year, the predecessor area which had the highest preceding year council tax, in relation to any financial year after the first year— the area referred to in paragraph (a), and any other predecessor area for which the appropriate authority’s basic amount of council tax for an earlier financial year was calculated— under regulation 20(2)(a), under regulation 21 in such a way that the basic amount of council tax for the area is more than the higher amount by an amount equal to the aggregate of the special items that relate to the area, or under regulation 22 in such a way that the amount calculated by applying the formula in paragraph (6) of that regulation is equal to the higher amount; “special item” means an item mentioned in section 35(1) (special items for the purpose of section 34) of the 1992 Act; and “uniform amount of council tax”, in relation to a reorganised area and a financial year, means the amount calculated for the area and the year under section 33(1) of the 1992 Act as modified by paragraph 2 of Schedule 2 to these Regulations. 2 The reference in the definition of “basic amount of council tax” in paragraph (1) to a dwelling listed in valuation band D is a reference to a dwelling to which that valuation band is shown as applicable in the appropriate authority’s valuation list. 3 Any calculation of a council tax base by an appropriate authority under this Part for any part of its area must be made in accordance with the Council Tax Base Regulations as modified by paragraphs 11 to 13 of Schedule 2 to these Regulations. Definition of “higher amount” 13 1 In this Part, “higher amount”, in relation to a reorganised area and a financial year, means— a if no special items relate to any part of the principal area, the basic amount of council tax calculated for the principal area and the year under regulation 17; b if one or more special items relate to the whole of the principal area, the basic amount of council tax calculated for the principal area and the year under regulation 17 less the aggregate of those special items; c if one or more special items relate to a part only of the principal area, the amount calculated for the year by applying the formula in paragraph (2). 2 The formula is— ( A − B ) C where— A is the aggregate of the amounts calculated by applying the formula in paragraph (3); B is the aggregate of the special items which relate to the principal area; and C is the amount calculated by the authority as its council tax base for the principal area. 3 The formula is— D × E where— D is the basic amount of council tax calculated by the authority under regulation 18 for each part of the principal area; and E is the amount calculated by the authority as its council tax base for that part. Definition of “lower amount” 14 1 In this Part, “lower amount”, in relation to a predecessor area other than the principal area or a part of that area and a financial year (“the relevant year”), means the amount calculated by applying the formula— H A − F where— HA is the higher amount for the relevant year and the reorganised area of which the predecessor area is a part, and F is the amount calculated by applying the formula in paragraph (2). 2 The formula is— G − H where— G is— if the relevant year is the first year, the preceding year council tax for the principal area, if the relevant year is any financial year after the first year, the higher amount for the financial year preceding the relevant year; and H is— if the relevant year is the first year, the preceding year council tax for the predecessor area, if the relevant year is any financial year after the first year, the relevant amount for the predecessor area or the part of that area for the financial year preceding the relevant year. 3 In the definition of item H in paragraph (2), “relevant amount” means— a if no special items relate to any part of the predecessor area, the basic amount of council tax calculated under regulation 20, b if one or more special items relate to the whole of the predecessor area, the basic amount of council tax calculated under regulation 21 less the aggregate of those special items, c if one or more special items relate to a part only of the predecessor area— i for any part of the predecessor area to which no special items relate, the basic amount of council tax calculated under regulation 22(2)(a), or ii for any part of that area to which one or more special items relate, the basic amount of council tax calculated under regulation 22(2)(b) less the aggregate of those special items. CHAPTER 2 EQUALISATION OF COUNCIL TAX: GENERAL Different basic amounts of council tax for the predecessor areas 15 1 In order to equalise more equitably the amounts of council tax payable in respect of dwellings situated in the predecessor areas of a reorganised area— a the relevant authority may determine that it will calculate basic amounts of council tax for the predecessor areas in accordance with regulations 16 to 22 for the first year; and b the single-tier council may determine that it will calculate basic amounts of council tax for the principal area and any predecessor areas other than the principal area in accordance with regulations 16 to 22 for any of the following financial years— i the second year, ii the third year, iii the fourth year, iv the fifth year. 2 But— a a determination may not be made under paragraph (1) for a financial year if the appropriate authority has already made calculations under sections 32 to 36 of the 1992 Act for that year, and b a determination may only be made under paragraph (1)(b) if a determination was made by an appropriate authority under paragraph (1) for the financial year preceding that year. 3 Any determination under paragraph (1) for a year must be made before 11th March in the financial year preceding that year, but a determination is not invalid merely because it is made after that date. 4 Regulations 16 to 22 shall apply in relation to a financial year if an appropriate authority has made a determination under paragraph (1) for that year. 5 Where regulations 16 to 22 apply as mentioned in paragraph (4), the enactments referred to in paragraph (6) shall have effect in relation to a reorganised area with the modifications specified in Schedule 2 to these Regulations. 6 The enactments are— a the 1992 Act, b the Council Tax Base Regulations, and c the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (Supply of Information) Regulations 1992 . Limitation on council tax requirement 16 1 In relation to a financial year referred to in regulation 15(4), the aggregate of the amounts calculated by applying the formula in paragraph (2) must not be greater than the amount calculated by applying the formula— I × T where— I is the uniform amount of council tax; and T is item T in section 33(1) of the 1992 Act as modified by paragraph 2 of Schedule 2 to these Regulations. 2 The formula first referred to paragraph (1) is— J × K where— J is the basic amount of council tax calculated by the appropriate authority under this Part for each part of its area; and K is the amount calculated by the authority as its council tax base for that part. CHAPTER 3 CALCULATION OF BASIC AMOUNT OF COUNCIL TAX: PRINCIPAL AREA Calculation of basic amount of council tax for principal area: no special items or special items relating to the whole of the principal area 17 1 This regulation applies in relation to the principal area if— a no special items relate to any part of the area, or b one or more special items relate to the whole of the area. 2 The basic amount of council tax for the area must be more than the uniform amount of council tax. Calculation of basic amount of council tax for principal area: special items relating to part only of the principal area 18 1 This regulation applies in relation to the principal area if one or more special items relate to a part only of that area. 2 The appropriate authority must calculate different basic amounts of council tax— a for any part of the principal area to which no special items relate, and b for any part of that area to which one or more special items relate. 3 The amount calculated under paragraph (2) for each part of the principal area must be more than the uniform amount of council tax. CHAPTER 4 CALCULATION OF BASIC AMOUNT OF COUNCIL TAX: PREDECESSOR AREAS OTHER THAN THE PRINCIPAL AREA Calculation of basic amounts of council tax: calculation for predecessor area other than principal area 19 1 The appropriate authority’s basic amount of council tax for a predecessor area other than the principal area must be calculated in accordance with— a regulation 20, b regulation 21, or c regulation 22. 2 For at least one of the predecessor areas the appropriate authority must calculate its basic amount of council tax— a under regulation 20(2)(b); b under regulation 21 in such a way that the basic amount of council tax for the area is not more than the higher amount by an amount equal to the aggregate of the special items that relate to the area; or c under regulation 22 in such a way that the amount calculated by applying the formula in paragraph (6) of that regulation is less than the higher amount. Calculation for predecessor area other than principal area: no special items relating to the area 20 1 This regulation applies in relation to a predecessor area other than the principal area if no special items relate to any part of that area. 2 The basic amount of council tax for the area must be— a equal to the higher amount; or b i less than the higher amount, and ii more than the lower amount for the area. Calculation for predecessor area other than principal area: special items relating to the whole of the area 21 1 This regulation applies in relation to a predecessor area other than the principal area if one or more special items relate to the whole of that area. 2 The basic amount of council tax for the area— a must be more than the amount calculated by applying the formula in paragraph (3); and b may be more than the higher amount, but only by an amount that is less than or equal to the aggregate of the special items that relate to the area. 3 The formula is— L A + M where— LA is the lower amount for the predecessor area; and M is the aggregate of the special items that relate to that area. Calculation for predecessor area other than principal area: special items relating to part only of the area 22 1 This regulation applies in relation to a predecessor area other than the principal area if one or more special items relate to a part only of that area. 2 The authority must calculate different basic amounts of council tax— a for any part of the predecessor area to which no special items relate, and b for any part of the area to which one or more special items relate. 3 The amount calculated under paragraph (2)(a) for a part of the predecessor area must be more than the lower amount for that part. 4 The amount calculated under paragraph (2)(b) for a part of the predecessor area must be more than the amount calculated by applying the formula— L A + N where— LA is the lower amount for the part; and N is the aggregate of the special items that relate to that part. 5 The amount calculated by applying the formula in paragraph (6) must be less than or equal to the higher amount. 6 The formula is— ( P − Q ) R where— P is the aggregate of the amounts calculated by applying the formula in paragraph (7); Q is the aggregate of the special items which relate to the predecessor area; and R is the amount calculated by the authority as its council tax base for the predecessor area. 7 The formula is— S × U where— S is the basic amount of council tax calculated by the authority under paragraph (2) for each part of the predecessor area; and U is the amount calculated by the authority as its council tax base for that part. Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government John Healey Minister of State Department for Communities and Local Government 20th November 2008