inform-residents-newsletter-spring-summer-2016 (2)

03 04 Your Rates Rates are a levy on your property. The income collected by Land and Property Services (LPS) fromrates on domestic and business properties provides funding for services at a local level i.e. Fermanagh and OmaghDistrict Council area, and a regional (Northern Ireland) level. The total rates bill levied on ratepayers is made up of the district rate, which is set by the Council which funds the expenditure detailed in the tables on page 3 and the regional ratewhichCentral Government determines. Regional Rates help fund services such as water, sewerage, roads, education and housing. For the financial year 2016-17 the percentage of the total rates paidwhich go to the Council andCentral Government respectively are shown in the table below: Domestic Property Business Property Fermanagh&OmaghDistrict Council 44.45% 38.31% Central Government 55.55% 61.69% The domestic district rate for 2016-17 is 0.3290 pence and the business district rate is 20.1200 pence in the pound. Fermanagh andOmaghDistrict Council’s business rate is the lowest inNorthern Ireland for 2016-17 whilst four Councils out of the eleven have a lower domestic district rate. The Executive set aside up to £30m to phase in the impact of rate convergence over a four year period ending in 2018-19. Discount this year is 60%and Fermanagh ratepayers will avail of this relief whichwill be applied as a discount to the rates bills in 2016-17. The impact is summarised below: DOMESTIC Fermanagh Omagh Impact on ratepayer before transitional relief 1.66% 1.66% Impact on ratepayer after transitional relief 3.09% 1.66% Impact on bill with average Capital Value of £111,479 £24 £13 BUSINESS Fermanagh Omagh Impact on ratepayer before transitional relief 1.66% 1.66% Impact on ratepayer after transitional relief 2.41% 1.66% Impact on bill with average NAVof £16,508 £200 £142 For further information about rates and any supports available, please contact Land and Property Services by calling 0300 200 7801 or visiting www.nidirect.gov.uk/rates Council Expenditure for 2016-2017 During 2016-2017, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council plans to spend £45.97m (£34.08m net of income), on the delivery of high quality services and facilities within the district. In addition, the Council has agreed a 3-year capital plan for the development of infrastructure and assets across the district. Projects include upgrades to a number of leisure facilities, civic amenity sites, play areas and recreation grounds and, subject to funding, the delivery of a range of public realm and environmental improvement schemes. The Capital Plan for 2016-2017 amounts to £10.18m. The Council receives a number of grants which reduce the burden on the ratepayer, resulting in an amount of £30,385,379 to be raised viaDistrict Rates. The Council has committed 24%of its annual budget to the provision of leisure, community and tourism facilities, parks and play areas and to fund the arts and culture programme of the Council. Ahigher amount of resource is required to provide an extensive range of environmental services which includes waste collection and disposal, cemeteries, public conveniences and street cleansing. Such services account for 42%of total expenditure. The remaining balance of the Council’s budget is earmarked towards supporting the economic and community development and urban regeneration of the district, as well as meeting costs associatedwith financing the capital programme of the Council. Net Expenditure 2016-2017 During 2016-17, the Council will allocate its funds over the following key services areas: Leisure&Recreation Services Culture andHeritage £1,710,988 Recreation and Sport £4,848,658 Tourism £1,155,784 Community Services £555,606 £8,271,036 Environmental Services Cemeteries £276,752 Environmental Health £1,800,595 Public Conveniences £497,984 Licensing £155,870 Other Cleaning £2,010,603 Waste Collection £3,695,724 WasteDisposal £5,364,898 MinorWorks £433,547 £14,235,973 Planning&Development Services Community Planning £142,931 Economic Development £1,433,588 EURural Development £80,000 Urban & Community Development £1,114,640 Development Control £768,678 Property CertificateUnit £281,950 Building Control £682,227 Environmental Initiatives £151,097 £4,655,111 These key services represent 80%of all planned revenue expenditure for the coming financial year. The costs of services detailed above include the relevant share of centralised support costs but exclude depreciation. Capital Programme In addition, the Council has agreed a three- year capital programme of £31,200,500 for the development of infrastructure and assets across the district. For 2016-2017 the programmes includes £1,260,000 for investment in vehicles, plant, equipment and systems, whilst £8,918,500 is earmarked for development of infrastructure in the district which includes upgrades to a number of leisure and recreational facilities, waste collection and disposal facilities, and subject to funding, the delivery of a range of public realmand environmental improvement schemes. Details of the 2016-2017 programme are outlined below: • Vehicles, Plant, Equipment &Systems £1.260m • North FermanaghValley Park £1.102m • Heritage Lottery Projects £1.000m • Play Areas, Outdoor Sports &Recreation £780k • Other Council Property Improvements £700k • Community Facilities incl. West EndCommunity Centre £640k • The Ardhowen £600k •Waste Collection & DisposalWorks £595k • Omagh Riverwalk Development (Phase III) £565K • Gortin Glen Development (Phase I) £500k • Enniskillen Castle Development Project (final phase) £500k • RecreationGrounds £420k • Leisure Centre Improvements £410k • Parks andOpen Spaces £285k • GortrushDepot Improvements £280k • Cemeteries £240k • Strule Arts Centre £170k • TourismFacilities £70k • Public Conveniences £70k Environmental 42% Leisure&Recreation 24% Planning &Development 14% Financing &Capital Costs 10% Corporate&Democratic 10% 42% 24% 14% 10% 10% Supporting Communitieswith Financial Assistance Fermanagh and Omagh District Council is committed to supporting thriving and sustainable local communities across the district and, in addition to advising on and assisting with projects and initiatives, provides financial support through grants and bursaries. Grants in excess of £580,000were allocated in the past year, and approximately 625 projects received amounts ranging from£100 to £20,000. Some groups or organisations submitted several applications for a range of different projects, all of which helped local communities to strengthen their local community. Two calls for applications for grant assistance are advertised each year, one in the late winter/early spring, and the other in late summer/early autumn. Grants are available to voluntary clubs, societies, and organisations based in the district, across awide range of themes including Arts, Culture andHeritage, Festivals, Community Services, Good Relations and Sports. Bursaries are also available for individuals to engage inArts, Cultural, Heritage and Sports opportunities. This year there has been an additional call for grant assistance to facilitate Easter Rising and Battle of the Somme centenary events. Applications for fundingmust bemade before an event or project takes place, and grant aidwill not be provided retrospectively. For further information onwhat grants are available, and for advice on application, please contact the Council on 0300 303 1777 or email: grants@fermanaghomagh.com