The report of the Section 151 Officer / Head of Financial Services estimates the Collection Fund position for the year ending 31 March 2016. A decision on the distribution of any Collection Fund surplus has to be notified to the precepting bodies by 22 January 2016.

Resolved –

(1)  That the declaration of an estimated £3.555 million surplus balance position for the Council Tax proportion of the Collection Fund for the year ending 31 March 2016 be notified to the precepting bodies. Wirral’s share is £3.0 million.

(2)  That the declaration of the 2015/16 National Non-Domestic Rates (Business Rates) surplus / deficit position and 2016/17 initial forecast be made by the Leader in conjunction with the Acting Section 151 Officer on, or before, 31 January 2016. The large volume of appeals received at the end of 2014/15 resulted in a deficit which will need recovering in 2016/17. The current forecast shows a £5.2 million deficit in 2015/16 of which Wirral’s share would be £2.6 million.

(3)  That the Council share of the ‘one-off’ distribution from the Collection Fund, currently estimated as a net £0.4 million (or as amended per the final NNDR return of 31 January 2016), be used to replenish General Fund Balances.