The Minister said: “The district rates are struck by 15th February each year by individual district councils to meet the costs of local services, including culture and heritage, recreation and sport, tourism, and community services. District councils strike a domestic rate and a non-domestic rate.”
District rates vary from district to district, reflecting the rateable resources and spending policies of individual councils. This year, both the domestic and non-domestic district rates show percentage increases of between 1.66% and 9.88%, when compared with the 2007/2008 figures.
Notes to Editors:
1. District councils are required by law to strike their domestic and non-domestic rates by 15 February each year.
2. District rates are struck by individual district councils to meet the costs of local services, including culture and heritage; recreation and sport; tourism; and community services. A link to the table showing the district rates struck for 2008/2009 can be found at the Department of Environment website
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3. From 2007/2008 domestic rates have been determined on the basis of capital valuations of property as assessed by the Land and Property Services. The valuation date is fixed as at 1 January 2005. Details of the assessed values can be found at the Land and Services website. Full details about Rating Reform can be found on the Department of Finance and Personnel website. Non-domestic rates will continue to be based on rental values.
4. Domestic and non-domestic regional rates are struck each year, by the Department of Finance and Personnel, to help pay for central services such as health, education, roads and transport.
5. The combination of district and regional rates is used to calculate the rates bills for ratepayers.
6. The Local Government Taskforce will be developing proposals for a new local government performance management regime, building on the provisions of the 2002 Best Value Act. The Minister would expect any new performance management regime to play a significant role in driving out efficiencies and improving service delivery within local government.
7. Media queries to the DoE Press Office, 028 9054 0003 or, out of office hours, contact the EIS Duty Press Officer on pager 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.
