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Information needed on remainder of Council Tax
brian ovens made this Freedom of Information request to Falkirk Council
The request was partially successful.
From: brian ovens
9 March 2010
Dear Falkirk Council,
Can you help in furthering my research on the Council Tax? I have
recently through the Freedom of Information act received
conformation that around 50% of Council Tax pays for pensions, the
four mentioned were Council pensions, Police, School and Fire
service.
Can you now tell me through the freedom of information act, where
there rest of the figure for Council tax goes? Does it go to any
other pensions? Does it go towards eye tests?Does it go towards
travel expenses etc?
Can you also tell me if all local mps pay Council tax, and if so,
do they claim this money back through expenses?
Yours faithfully,
b ovens
From: Finance
Falkirk Council
6 April 2010
I am responding to your latest e-mail. I wish to refer you to my
response on 18 January to your enquiry of 6 January. In looking at
the Council budget, you cannot ignore the impact of government
grant which financed 81.3% of Council spending in 2008/09. In both
my response and Mr McGirr’s response of 3 March 2010, we referred
to expenditure of £15.63m in respect of the Falkirk Council Pension
Fund, which is equivalent to 4.9% of Council Tax income.
In my response of 18 February I provided the following link to
illustrate the Services that the Council provide
http://www.falkirk.gov.uk/services/finan...
The Council’s Audited Accounts for 2008/09 can be viewed by
clicking on the link below:
http://www.falkirk.gov.uk/services/finan...
I don’t understand the relevance of your question relating to eye
tests which are free throughout Scotland.
Houses owned by MPs are liable to Council Tax like any other
dwelling. I do not have access to any information relating to
expenses claimed by MPs.
From: brian ovens
6 April 2010
Dear Finance,
Thanks for the reply, i had a look at the figures and it takes a
bit of reading.I noticed that for a band D council tax demand it
stands at £480 for education. Does this £480 pay for school
teachers wages or school teachers pensions? and the same question
applies the the other figures for a band D council tax demand.
I also noted that on page 65 of the pension sheet that pensions are
being invested in the stock market, is this correct or am i reading
it wrong?
If it is being floated on the stock market who gains from the
prophet? i.e. those who have pensions etc or does the prophets go
back in the poole to help pay for other council requirements?
Yours sincerely,
b ovens
From: Finance Services
Falkirk Council
30 April 2010
The £480 that you refer to (shown as £487.14 on the Budget Facts
document) relates to all costs incurred in the delivery of the
Education Service and therefore includes both salaries and pension
contributions.
Referring to Page 65, I can confirm that any “Net Additions from
dealing with Members” is invested in the stock market (comprises
Bonds, Equities & Property).
Page 66 of the Council’s 2008/09 Accounts illustrates how the
Pension Fund Assets were invested as at 31 March 2009 and this
illustrates the sums invested in the stock market. All returns on
Pension Fund investments accrue wholly to the Pension Fund.
From: brian ovens
30 April 2010
Dear Finance Services,
So basically, people pay their Council Tax, it is then floated on
the stock/money market through pension schemes? It is then shared
when it matures between the four service's i mentioned, police,
fire, schools and school assistants? Are there anymore service's
that Council Tax goes to through this scheme?
Also, i mention eye tests because another Council told me that they
pay for staff to have new glasses. Is this the same with Falkirk
Council? I know the eye test is free, but how much goes towards
council staff getting new glasses and laser treatment?
Yours sincerely,
brian ovens
From: brian ovens
11 May 2010
Dear Falkirk Council,
Was wondering if you could answer my last questions please?
Yours faithfully,
b ovens
From: Finance Services
Falkirk Council
13 May 2010
I refer to your e-mail of 30 April.
Regarding your first point, I would refer you to my previous
responses of 18 February and 7 April and to the link provided to
documents on the website which answers your question.
A proportion of the cost of new glasses is reimbursed to staff if
they are required for the use of computer screens. The cost of this
in 2009/10 was £846. We do not pay for any part of the cost of
laser treatment.
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