Title, commencement, application and interpretation

1.–(1) The title of these Regulations is the Local Authorities (Alteration of Requisite Calculations) (Wales) Regulations 2008 and they come into force on 27 February 2008.

(2) These Regulations apply in relation to authorities in Wales.

(3) These Regulations apply in relation to the financial year beginning on 1 April 2008.

(4) In these Regulations "the 1992 Act" ("Deddf 1992") means the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

Calculation of budget requirement (billing authorities)

2. Section 32 of the 1992 Act has effect as if–

(a) in subsection (3)(a)(3) the words "or relevant special grant" were omitted; and

(b) after subsection (12) the following subsection were inserted(4) –

"(12A) In this section and section 33 below–

(a) references to sums payable for the financial year in respect of redistributed non-domestic rates are references to sums so payable in accordance with the Local Government Finance Report (No.1) 2008–2009 (Final Settlement – Councils) approved by resolution of the National Assembly for Wales pursuant to section 84H(2)(5) of, and paragraph 11B(1)(6) of Schedule 8 to, the Local Government Finance Act 1988 on 29 January 2008; and

(b) references to sums payable for the financial year in respect of revenue support grant are references to sums so payable in accordance with that report.".

Calculation of basic amount of council tax (billing authorities)

3. Section 33(1) of the 1992 Act(7) has effect as if in item P the words "or relevant special grant" were omitted.

Calculation of budget requirement (major precepting authorities)

4. Section 43 of the 1992 Act has effect as if–

(a) in subsection (3)(a)(i)(8)–

(i) the words "relevant special grant" were omitted; and

(ii) the words "floor funding" were inserted before "or police grant;"; and

(b) after subsection (6D) the following subsections were inserted(9) –

"(6E) In this section and section 44 below–

(a) references to sums payable for the financial year in respect of redistributed non-domestic rates are references to sums so payable in accordance with the Local Government Finance Report (No.2) 2008–2009 (Final Settlement – Police Authorities) approved by resolution of the National Assembly for Wales pursuant to section 84H(2) of, and paragraph 11B(1) of Schedule 8 to, the Local Government Finance Act 1988 on 19 February 2008; and

(b) references to sums payable for the financial year in respect of revenue support grant are references to sums so payable in accordance with that report.

(6F) In this section and section 44 below "floor funding" means grant payable to a major precepting authority by the Secretary of State in addition to the police grant referred to in subsection (6C).".

Calculation of basic amount of council tax (major precepting authorities)

5. Section 44(1) of the 1992 Act(10) has effect as if in item P –

(a) the words "relevant special grant" were omitted; and

(b) the words "floor funding" were inserted before "or police grant;".

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

Sections 32 and 43 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 ("the 1992 Act") set out respectively how a billing authority and a major precepting authority are to calculate their budget requirements for a financial year. Sections 33 and 44 of that Act set out respectively how a billing authority and a major precepting authority are to calculate the basic amount of their council tax.

Regulations 2(a), 3, 4(a)(i) and 5(a) of these Regulations omit references to "relevant special grant" from sections 32, 33, 43 and 44 of the 1992 Act for the financial year beginning on 1 April 2008 since no special grants are being defined as relevant special grants for that financial year.

Regulations 2(b) and 4(b) insert for the financial year beginning on 1 April 2008 for billing and major precepting authorities the definitions of sums payable in respect of redistributed non-domestic rates and revenue support grant in sections 32 and 43 of the 1992 Act to ensure that the amounts of redistributed non-domestic rates and revenue support grant excluded from the budget requirement calculation in those sections relate only to such amounts payable under the respective Local Government Finance Reports for the financial year beginning on 1 April 2008. The same definitions also apply to sections 33 and 44 of the 1992 Act. Regulation 4(b) also defines "floor funding" in section 43 by inserting subsection (6F) for the financial year beginning on 1 April 2008.

Regulations 4(a)(ii) and 5(b) further amend sections 43 and 44 of the 1992 Act, such that major precepting authorities in Wales must take into account any floor funding received from the Secretary of State for the financial year beginning on 1 April 2008 when making the required calculation for that year.