Local Government Reorganisation Consultation - Have your say!
Derbyshire is about to embark on its most significant local government restructure in half a century - and we want your views.
Under the proposal, the ten existing councils in Derbyshire would be replaced by two new unitary authorities by April 2028 - one in the north and one in the south, each responsible for delivering all services in their local area.
There are three options for how Amber Valley could be included: joining the northern council, the southern council, or with different parishes joining each of the two councils, depending on where they may best fit.
Before any final decisions are made, it’s vital that residents, businesses, and organisations across Amber Valley share their views.
The public consultation is open now until 10 August and takes around 10 minutes to complete.
Since the introduction of council tax in 1993, Amber Valley's revenue collection service has strived to collect as much council tax within the year that it is due, aiming for consistently high council tax collection rates. We are now comfortably and consistently within the upper quartile (top 25%) for English authorities (out of over 300 English authorities).
There are now almost 61,000 council taxpayers in Amber Valley, the largest Derbyshire district authority.
In 2023/24, £87 million was collected in total. This year (2024/25), we will collect around £92 million.
Achieving a high in-year collection rate benefits the council's overall cash flow. Minimising the level of arrears also benefits council taxpayers generally by reducing the allowance made for non-collection allowed in determining the council tax base for future bills.
Local authorities in England achieved a national average in-year collection rate for council tax of 95.9% in 2023/24.
Amber Valley Borough Council collected 98.6% in 2023/24 and has consistently collected above the national average.
Council tax collection rates for past years are listed below:
2023/24 – 98.6%, placing us equal 11th nationally
2022/23 - 98.6%, placing us equal 12th nationally
2021/22 - 98.7%, placing us equal 9th nationally
2020/21 - 98.4%, placing us equal 13th nationally
2019/20 - 98.7%, placing us equal 19th nationally
2018/19 - 98.8%, placing us equal 22nd nationally
2017/18 - 98.8%, placing us equal 30th nationally
2016/17 – 99.0%, placing us equal 14th nationally
2015/16 - 98.8%, placing us equal 26th nationally
2014/15 - 98.7%, placing us equal 27th nationally
2013/14 - 98.8%, placing us equal 17th nationally
2012/13 - 98.9%, placing us equal 18thnationally
2011/12 - 98.8%, placing us equal 27thnationally
2010/11- 98.8%, placing us equal 35thnationally
2009/10- 98.9%, placing us equal 19thnationally
2008/09- 99.1%, placing us equal 7thnationally
2007/08- 99.1%, placing us equal 15thnationally
2006/07 - 99.2%, placing us equal 7thnationally
2005/06 - 99.2%, placing us equal 6thnationally
2004/05 - 99.1%, placing us equal 9thnationally
2003/04 - 99.0%, placing us within the top 20 performing authorities nationwide
2002/03 - 98.7%, again placing us well within upper quartile targets
2001/02 - 98.7%, our highest collection rate to date at the time, more than any other Derbyshire authority
