47851 Council Tax Booklet 07

2007/2008 Council Tax & Business Rates

Contents Cabinet Member’s statement 2 Council Tax information 3 Benefit information 6 Business rates information 8 Financial information 12 Payment information 15 How to contact us 16 Useful telephone numbers 22 This document is available in different formats, for example braille, audio, large print and in alternative languages. To access these please telephone the Contact Centre on 0161 770 6622. The information contained in this leaflet is provided by Oldham Council, as the billing authority, to explain the background against which the Council Tax for 2007 / 2008 was set. J.R. Bland Director of Finance & ICT, Strategy & Resources PO Box 4, Civic Centre, West Street, Oldham OL1 1UH COUNCIL TAX ENQUIRIES TELEPHONE: 0161 770 6622 BENEFIT ENQUIRIES TELEPHONE: 0161 770 6633 BUSINESS RATE ENQUIRIES TELEPHONE: 0161 770 6677 PAYMENT LINE TELEPHONE: 0161 770 6611 Front Cover Image: Bob Mottram, long serving member of the key Street Scene team. Page 18 Image: Photo courtesy of national dance champions Sean and Carol Madden 1

Statement by the Cabinet Member for Finance and Human Resources I am pleased to provide the introduction to your 2007/08 Council Tax and business rates booklet. The key message to underline is that the Council’s strategy to maintain a stable budget and protect against fluctuating Council Tax increases has proved very effective. So you will see that this year’s increase of 4.9 per cent in your bill is consistent with increases for the previous years. To deliver that we have had to make £11.1 million of budget savings. While this level of increase is not ideal it strikes what, following consultation, is a balance between service reduction and an affordable increase. Further, the aim of this strategy is to secure similar or even improved stability in your Council Tax over the next three years. For the majority of householders, that is people in Band A properties, the 4.9 per cent increase means a Council Tax of £984.76 – an increase for the year of £46. The relative amount for a Band D property is £1,477.14, meaning those households paying £69 more over the year. These Council Tax levels reflect the Council’s - and the public’s - priorities for increased investment in areas such as street cleaning, better roads and safeguarding vulnerable children. The Council continues to be a key player in the regeneration and renewal of the Borough, notably in education and the potential £187 million investment into our secondary schools, in housing improvement, in the redevelopment of Oldham town centre and attainment of national Green Flag status for so many of our parks, to name but some. Your satisfaction of Council services, according to a residents’ survey, has improved and, importantly, one of the key frontline services, adult social care, has secured a two- star (three stars is the highest level) Government rating. Performance of Council services continues to improve but we are not complacent and recognise that much still remains to be done. Councillor Shoab Akhtar 2

Council Tax information Council Tax valuation bands Most dwellings are subject to the Council Tax. There is one bill per dwelling whether it is a house, bungalow, flat, maisonette, mobile home or houseboat and whether it is owned or rented. Each dwelling has been allocated to one of eight bands according to its open market value at 1 April 1991. Valuation Range of values Valuation Range of values band band A Up to & including £40,000 E £88,001 - £120,000 B £40,001 - £52,000 F £120,001 - £160,000 C £52,001 - £68,000 G £160,001 - £320,000 D £68,001 - £88,000 H £320,001 or more Your Council Tax bill states which band applies to your dwelling Council Tax 2007 - 2008 BAND OLDHAM SADDLEWORTH SHAW & CROMPTON A £984.76 £996.43 £993.89 B £1148.89 £1162.50 £1159.53 C £1313.01 £1328.57 £1325.18 D £1477.14 £1494.64 £1490.83 E £1805.39 £1826.78 £1822.13 F £2133.65 £2158.92 £2153.42 G £2461.90 £2491.07 £2484.72 H £2954.28 £2989.28 £2981.66 Appeals Liability for Council Tax – you can make an appeal if you feel that: your property should not be subject to a Council Tax charge you should not be liable to pay a Council Tax bill you think the calculation of the charge is wrong Such an appeal should be made in writing to the Director of Finance & ICT, Strategy & Resources, PO Box 4, Civic Centre, West Street, Oldham OL1 1UH. As occupier if you pay rent inclusive of Council tax , this arrangement may not be binding on the Council and you may still be legally liable to pay the Council tax bill in your name. Banding and the Valuation List - Council Tax was introduced on 1 April 1993. Bandings are set by the Listing Officer at the Valuation Office Agency, based on property values as at 1 April 1991. Everyone could challenge their banding until 30 November 1993. Since 1 December 1993 there are only limited occasions when taxpayers can challenge their banding. These include: after demolition / part demolition conversion of houses to flats physical changes in locality affecting values a change in the domestic use of a composite property and within 6 months of: a band change to your property by the Listing Officer 3

Council Tax information 4 a band change to a similar property to yours made by the Valuation Tribunal or the High Court becoming a new taxpayer If you have a query about your Council Tax banding you should not contact the Council but the Manchester Valuation Office Agency, 17th Floor, Portland Tower, Portland Street, Manchester M1 3LD. Tel: 0161 245 4200. E-mail: [email protected]. Making an appeal does not allow you to withhold payment of tax owing in the meantime. If your appeal is successful you will be entitled to a refund of any overpaid tax. People with disabilities If you or someone who lives with you needs a room, or an extra bathroom or kitchen, or extra space in your property to meet special needs arising from a disability, you may be entitled to a reduced Council Tax bill. The bill may be reduced to that of a property in the band immediately below the band shown on the valuation list. If you are in band A and your circumstances are as those described above your Council Tax could be reduced by a sixth. Exempt dwellings Exemptions for vacant properties unfurnished (exempt for up to six months) owned by a charity (exempt for up to six months) require or are undergoing structural alteration or major repair (exempt for up to six months after completion of the works and restricted to a total exemption period of no more than 12 months from the date the property became empty). left empty by someone who has gone into prison, who has moved to receive care in hospital, or a home or elsewhere, provided they were the last occupier. left empty by someone who has moved in order to provide personal care to another person left empty by students waiting for probate or letters of administration to be granted (and for up to six months after) have been repossessed are the responsibility of a bankrupt’s trustee empty because their occupation is forbidden by law waiting to be occupied by a minister of religion unoccupied annex Exemptions for occupied properties occupied only by people under 18 years old occupied only by people who are severely mentally impaired occupied only by students occupied only by people with diplomatic immunity an occupied annex to an inhabited dwelling where the occupant/s of the annex is/are either an elderly or disabled relative of the occupant of the main dwelling exemptions may be terminated in a number of circumstances eg if the dwelling becomes occupied by another person; on disposal of the property; and by the letting of the property. If you think you may be entitled to an exemption you should telephone the contact Centre on 0161 770 6622, enquire at the One Stop Shop, Civic Centre, West Street, Oldham or write to the Director of Finance & ICT, Strategy & Resources, PO Box 4, Civic Centre, West Street, Oldham OL1 1UH.

Council Tax information Discounts The full Council Tax bill assumes that there are two adults living in a dwelling. If only one adult lives in a dwelling (as their main home) the Council Tax bill will be reduced by 25 per cent. If a dwelling has been unoccupied and unfurnished for more than 6 months, the bill will be reduced by 50%. If a dwelling is a furnished second home (i.e. the owners / occupiers have their main residence elsewhere) the Council Tax bill will be reduced by 10 per cent. If the second home is under a contract of employment, a discount of 50% will apply. People in the following groups do not count towards the number of adults resident in a dwelling: full-time students, student nurses, apprentices and Youth Training Scheme trainees patients resident in hospital people who are being looked after in care homes people who are severely mentally impaired people staying in certain hostels or night shelters 18 and 19 year olds who are at or have just left school care workers working for low pay, usually for charities people resident with and caring for someone with a disability who is not a spouse, partner, or child under 18 members of visiting forces and certain international institutions members of religious communities (monks and nuns) people in prison (except those in prison for non-payment of Council Tax or a fine) people under 18 years old certain non-British spouses of students people with diplomatic immunity If you think you may be entitled to a discount you should telephone the contact Centre on 0161 770 6622, enquire at the One Stop Shop, Civic Centre, West Street, Oldham or write to the Director of Finance & ICT, Strategy & Resources, PO Box 4, Civic Centre, West Street, Oldham OL1 1UH. If your bill indicates that a discount or exemption has been allowed, you must tell the Council of any change of circumstance which affects your entitlement within 21 days. If you fail to do so you may be required to pay a penalty. E-billing You can now receive your Council Tax bill electronically. If you wish to take advantage of this facility please send us your email address, and remember to quote your Council Tax reference number. e-mail:[email protected] 5

Benefit information Are you entitled to Council Tax Benefit? 1. See which table applies to you. 2. Check the amount payable on your Council Tax bill. 3. If your MAXIMUM weekly income is not more than the amount shown you may qualify for benefit in 2007 / 2008. 4. If you have £16,000 or more capital you may NOT qualify. Table 1: Single person Council Tax bill: £738 £861 £1,107 £1,354 18 - 24 years Working Not Working Not Working Not Working Not Working Working Working Working £122 £134 £157 £181 £117 £129 £152 £176 25 - 59 years £134 £129 £146 £141 £170 £165 £193 £188 60 - 64 years £194 £189 £206 £201 £229 £224 £253 £248 65 years or more £213 £208 £225 £220 £248 £243 £272 £267 Table 2: Single parent (over 18 years) Council Tax bill: £738 £861 £1,107 £1,354 One child Working Not Working Not Working Not Working Not Working Working Working Working Under 1 year £229 £240 £264 £288 1 year or over £218 £204 £230 £215 £253 £239 £277 £263 £193 £205 £228 £252 Two children 1 or more under 1year £276 £251 £288 £263 £311 £286 £335 £310 1 year or over £266 £241 £277 £252 £301 £276 £324 £299 Three children 1 or more under 1year £324 £299 £335 £310 £359 £334 £382 £357 1 year or over £313 £288 £325 £300 £348 £323 £372 £347 Table 3: Couple (without children) Council Tax bill: £984 £1,148 £1,477 £1,805 Working Not Working Not Working Not Working Not Working Working Working Working 18 - 59 years £196 £186 £212 £202 £244 £234 £275 £265 One or both 60yrs £285 £275 £301 £291 £332 £322 £364 £354 but both under 65yrs £301 £326 £316 £358 £348 £389 £379 One or both £311 65 yrs or more Table 4: Couple with children (one partner over 18 years) Council Tax bill: £984 £1,148 £1,477 £1,805 One child Working Not Working Not Working Not Working Not Working Working Working Working Under 1 year £271 £261 £286 £276 £318 £308 £349 £339 1 year or over £260 £250 £276 £266 £307 £297 £339 £329 Two children £318 £308 £334 £324 £365 £355 £397 £387 1 or more under 1year 1 year or over £308 £298 £323 £313 £355 £345 £386 £376 Three children 1 or more under 1year £366 £356 £381 £371 £413 £403 £444 £434 1 year or over £355 £345 £371 £361 £402 £392 £434 £424 NB. If you are disabled you may still qualify for Benefit if your income is higher than the figures shown. 6

Benefit information Council Tax benefit ensures that people in receipt of Income Support will normally pay no Council Tax on the property they reside in, and that other people on low incomes will have their bills reduced. Second Adult Rebate is help towards your Council Tax bill because another adult (but not your partner) who is on low income lives in your home. If you think you may be entitled to Council Tax benefit or Second Adult Rebate you should pick up an application form at the Civic Centre, One Stop Shop or Housing offices and return it completed as soon as possible. For more information contact Benefits Line on 0161 770 6633 or to request a form telephone 0161 770 3915 (24 hour service). Further details on Council Tax benefit and Housing benefit can be found via the website address www.oldham.gov.uk/living (click on “Benefits and charges”). This includes information on:- Council Tax Benefit Help with your rent for private tenants How to claim housing benefit and council tax benefit Changes you need to tell us about if you are claiming council tax benefit and housing benefit. How other people in your home affect your housing benefit and council tax benefit. What to do if you disagree with a housing benefit or council tax benefit decision. What happens when you have been paid too much housing benefit and council tax benefit. Housing benefit and council tax benefit can your claim be backdated. Discretionary housing payments - help you can get to top up your housing benefit and council tax benefit. Housing benefit and council tax benefit for people who work. A guide to housing benefit and council tax benefit for landlords. Housing benefit and council tax benefit for students. Housing benefit and council tax benefit for people who are away from home. and also: Request or download an application form. Benefit calculator - to estimate your entitlement to benefit Change of circumstances form - to advise us of changes that have taken place which may affect your benefit. Making a claim for Council Tax Benefit does not allow you to withhold payment of Council tax in the meantime. 7

Business rates information The non-domestic rates, or business rates, collected by local councils are the means by which businesses and others who occupy non-domestic property make a contribution towards the cost of local services. Except in the City of London where special arrangements apply, the rates are pooled by central government and redistributed to local councils as part of the annual formula grant settlement. This money, together with revenue from council taxpayers, revenue support grant provided by the Government and certain other sums, is used to pay for the services provided by your local council and other local authorities in your area. Rateable value Apart from properties that are exempt from Business Rates, each non-domestic property has a rateable value which is normally set by the valuation officers of the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), an Agency of the Inland Revenue. It draws up and maintains a full list of all rateable values, which are available on their website at www.voa.gov.uk. The rateable value of your property will be shown on the front of your bill. The rateable value broadly represents the yearly rent the property could have been let for on the open market on a particular date. For the revaluation that came into effect on 1 April 2005, this date was set as 1 April 2003. The valuation officer has to maintain the list and may alter the value if he or she believes that the circumstances of the property have changed. The ratepayer (and certain others who have an interest in the property) can also appeal against the value shown in the list if they believe it is wrong. Further information on the grounds for making an appeal, and on how to make one, can be found on the VOA website at www.voa.gov.uk or from your local valuation office, whose address is: Stockport Valuation Office, Beckwith House, 1 Wellington Road North, Stockport, SK4 1AH. Telephone 0161 252 7900. Email: [email protected]. Successful appeals against values shown in the rating list that came into force on 1 April 2005 will normally be backdated to that date, although there are exceptions to this. Further information about these arrangements may be found on the VOA website at www.voa.gov.uk. National non-domestic rating multiplier The local council works out the Business Rates bill by multiplying the rateable value of the property by the appropriate multiplier. From 1 April 2005 there are two multipliers; the standard non- domestic rating multiplier and the small business non-domestic rating multiplier. The former is higher to pay for small business rate relief. The government sets the multipliers for each financial year for the whole of England. The Government normally changes both multipliers every year in line with inflation. By law the multipliers cannot go up by more than the rate of inflation apart from some adjustments to counteract losses from appeals and, in relation to the standard multiplier, to pay for small 8

Business rates information business rate relief. In the year of a revaluation it is set at a level that will keep the total amount raised in rates after the revaluation the same as before, plus inflation for that year. The current multipliers will be shown on the front of your bill. Transitional arrangements Property values normally change a good deal between each revaluation. Transitional arrangements help to phase in the effects of these changes by limiting the amount by which a bill may rise following a revaluation. To help pay for the limits on increases in bills after a revaluation, there also have to be limits on reductions in bills. Under the transition scheme, limits continue to apply to yearly increases and decreases until the full amount is due (rateable value times the multiplier). The scheme applies only to the bill based on a property at the time of the revaluation. If there are any changes to the property after the revaluation date, transitional arrangements will not normally apply to the part of a bill that applies to any increase in rateable value due to those changes. Further information about transitional arrangements and other reliefs may be obtained from Oldham Council or the website www.mybusinessrates.gov.uk Any transitional adjustments will be shown on the front of your bill. Unoccupied property rating In general, there will be no Business Rates to pay for the first three months that a property is empty. After that, an empty property rate of 50 per cent of the bill that would have been due on the occupied property will be payable, unless the property has been occupied for less than six weeks since the last empty period, in which case liability commences immediately the property becomes unoccupied. Industrial buildings, listed buildings and small properties with rateable values of less than £2,200 pay no empty property rates even after the first three months have expired. Partly occupied property relief A Ratepayer is liable for the full non-domestic rate whether a property is wholly occupied or only partly occupied. Where a property is partly occupied for a short time, the local authority has discretion to award relief in respect of the unoccupied part. Full details can be obtained from the local council. Charitable and discretionary relief Charitable relief, relief for registered Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) and Discretionary Relief Charities and Registered CASCs are entitled to 80 per cent relief where the property is occupied by the Charity or Club and is wholly or mainly used for charitable purposes or as a Registered CASC. In both cases, local councils have discretion to give further relief on the remaining bill. 9

Business rates information Authorities also have discretion to give relief on all or part of any rate bill for property occupied by certain non-profit making bodies. They can also consider giving rate relief in cases of hardship or where part of a property is beyond use for a certain period. Small business rate relief This relief is only available to ratepayers who apply to their local authority and who occupy either— (a) one property, or (b) one main property and other additional properties providing those additional properties each have a rateable value of less than £2,200. The rateable value of the property mentioned in (a), or the aggregate rateable value of all properties mentioned in (b), must be under £15,000 outside London or £21,500 within London, including on 1st April each year. Ratepayers who satisfy these conditions will have the bill for their single or main property calculated using the lower small business non-domestic rating multiplier rather than the ordinary non- domestic rating multiplier that is used to calculate the liability of other businesses. In addition, if the single or main property is shown on the rating list with a rateable value of up to £10,000, the ratepayer will receive a percentage reduction in their rates bill for this property of up to a maximum of 50% for a property with a rateable value of not more than £5,000. If an application for relief is granted, provided the ratepayer's circumstances do not change, the application will not need to be renewed until the next revaluation of non-domestic premises, which happens every five years. Certain changes in circumstances will need to be notified to the local authority by the ratepayer (other changes will be picked up by the local authority). The changes which must be notified are - (a) the ratepayer taking up occupation of a property they did not occupy at the time of making their application for relief; and (b) an increase in the rateable value of a property occupied by the ratepayer in an area other than the area of the local authority which granted the relief. Notification of these changes must be given to the local authority within 4 weeks of the day after the day the change happened. If this happens, there will be no interruption to the ratepayer's entitlement to the relief. However, failure to notify the authority within this timeframe will mean the ratepayer ceases to be entitled to the relief with effect from the day that the change happened. If they are still eligible, the ratepayer will be entitled to the relief again with effect from the day that they notify the local authority. A notification that the ratepayer has taken up occupation of an additional property must be by way of a fresh application for relief; notice of an increase in rateable value must be given in writing. Full details on the eligibility criteria and on how to apply for this relief are available from the local authority 10

Business rates information Rate relief for businesses in rural areas Certain types of business in rural villages, with a population below 3,000 may qualify for rate relief of 50 per cent. Businesses that qualify for this relief are the sole general store and the sole post office in the village, provided it has a rateable value of up to £7,000; any food shop with a rateable value of up to £7,000; and the sole pub and the sole petrol station in the village provided it has a rateable value of up to £10,500 Local councils have discretion to give further relief on the remaining bill on such property. The local council may decide to give up to 100 per cent relief to any other business in such a rural village, with a rateable value of up to £14,000, if it is satisfied that the business is of benefit to the community and having regard to the interests of its Council Tax payers. Areas designated as rural within this Authority are: Austerlands, Delph, Denshaw, Diggle, Dobcross, Freizland, Grasscroft, Greenfield, Grotton, Scouthead, Uppermill, Woodhouses. Rating advisers Ratepayers do not have to be represented in discussions about their rateable value or their rates bill. Appeals against rateable values can be made free of charge. However, ratepayers who do wish to be represented should be aware that members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS - website www.rics.org.uk) and the Institute of Revenues Rating and Valuation (IRRV - website www.irrv.org.uk) are qualified and are regulated by rules of professional conduct designed to protect the public from misconduct. Before you employ a rating adviser, you should check that they have the necessary knowledge and expertise, as well as appropriate indemnity insurance. Take great care and, if necessary, seek further advice before entering into any contract. E-billing You can now receive your Business Rates bill electronically. If you wish to take advantage of this facility please send us your email address, and remember to quote your Business rate reference number. e-mail : [email protected] Please note - as occupier if you pay rent inclusive of business rates, this arrangement may not be binding on the Council and you may still be legally liable to pay the business rate bill in your name. 11

Financial information Expenditure 2007 - 2008 How your money is spent Reasons for increase in Oldham’s net budget requirements Inflation £m Adult & Community 1.9 Children, Young People & Families 0.8 Environmental Services 2.4 Regeneration 0.2 Strategy & Resources 0.9 Other Costs 1.7 Demand Pressures 2.7 Adult & Community 13.4 Children, Young People & Families Environmental Services 1.6 Regeneration 0.7 Strategy & Resources 0.6 Other Costs 1.9 Savings -2.5 Adult & Community -3.3 Children, Young People & Families -2.1 Environmental Services -0.7 Regeneration -1.0 Strategy & Resources -1.5 Other Costs 17.7 Total Increase The Council Tax is the residual contribution to the cost of services provided by Oldham MBC and to the precepts of the Greater Manchester Police and the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authorities. Copies of the budget can be inspected at the Local Studies Library or at the Civic Centre and can be purchased for a £4 charge. 12

Financial information How the Council Tax has changed 2006 - 2007 ‘Band D’ Council Tax Equivalent number of ‘Band D’ properties ‘Band D’ Council Tax multiplied by number of properties equals: Total Council Tax levy 2006 - 2007 2007 - 2008 net budget requirement Adult & Community Children, Young People & Families Environmental Services Regeneration Strategy & Resources Other Costs Cost of Repaying Council Debt Total Increase in net budget requirement 2007 - 2008 External Finance Total Formula Grant Dedicated Schools Grant Balances Total increase in External Finance Precept for Oldham Council budget Other precepts Greater Manchester Police Authority Greater Manchester Fire and Civil Defence Authority Collection Fund Surplus Total increase in precepts Total Council Tax levy 2007 - 2008 Equivalent number of ‘Band D’ properties Total Council Tax levy divided by number of properties equals: 2007 - 2008 ‘Band D’ Council Tax Parish precepts - An additional charge is levied on residents of: Saddleworth Shaw and Crompton 13

Financial information £1,408.14 £m 62,041 87.4 Net budget Change from 17.7 2007 - 2008 2006 - 2007 (14.1) £m £m 1.5 0.9 57.7 5.6 91.9 195.6 1.4 34.2 0.1 14 0.4 2.6 8.7 14.4 0.0 27.9 (4.5) 4.7 (9.1) (0.5) 337.2 0.6 (102.1) 0.2 (152.9) 0.1 (0.5) 81.7 7.2 3.0 0.0 91.9 62,152 £1,477.14 £17.50 £13.69

Payment information YOU CAN NO LONGER POST CHEQUES TO OMBC YOU CAN PAY BY CHEQUE AT THE POST OFFICE YOU CAN NO LONGER PAY IN PERSON AT THE CIVIC CENTRE Payment of instalments The first instalment for those not paying by direct debit is due on 1 April 2007. It is important to pay the instalments on or before the day that they are due or you may receive a reminder. If a taxpayer falls behind with monthly instalments for a third time for Council Tax and a second time for Business rates, within a year, the right to pay by instalments is lost and the full year’s outstanding balance becomes due immediately. If it is not convenient for you to start paying on 1 April, you can choose to pay by direct debit for which later payment dates are available (see below for details). For people who may find monthly payments difficult, the bill can be paid by 40 weekly payments, or 20 fortnightly payments. If you choose this method there must have been sufficient payments made for at least the normal monthly instalment amount paid by the monthly due date. If you want to pay the bill in one instalment this must be done on or before 1 April 2007. If you want to pay by two instalments, half must be paid on or before 1 April 2007, and the remaining half on or before 1 September 2007. Direct debit For Council Tax, there are four dates to choose from if you pay by direct debit. You can choose to pay on the 8th, 15th, 24th or the 1st of the following month, whichever is convenient for you. For Business Rates, payment by direct debit is made on the 15th of the month. If you pay by any other method, your instalments are due on the 1st of the month, starting 1 April. Direct debit is the simplest and safest way to pay. Here’s why:- Peace of mind - payments are made automatically and payment dates will not be missed. You remain in control - and have a money back guarantee. Saves time and money - no queues, cheques or stamps. Later instalment dates - see above for details If you paid by direct debit last year or have already completed a form you do not need to notify your bank as the amount to be paid will automatically be adjusted to reflect the new amounts shown on your bill. If you did not pay this way last year. a direct debit form is provided on your Council tax bill, and you can telephone 0161 770 6677 to request a form for business rates. 15

Payment information AT THE POST OFFICE Take your bill with you, NO FEE will be charged. Cheques must be made payable to ‘POST OFFICE COUNTERS’. AT PAYZONE OUTLETS Take your bill with you. You can pay at any outlet where you see this sign. No fee will be charged. payzone BY DEBIT CARD You can pay on our 24 hour payment line 0161 770 6611 INTERNET PAYMENTS/ACCOUNT ENQUIRES You can pay your Council Tax and Business Rates by Debit Card via our website. You can also enquire about your account balance and previous payments if you have your account reference number. Internet payments are made via the Alliance & Leicester Bank, and you need to allow 5 working days for the payment to reach us. The website address is www.oldham.co.uk (click on Online Services). BY CREDIT CARD You can pay your bill IN FULL by Visa or Mastercard on telephone number 0161 770 6611. You CANNOT pay monthly instalments by credit card. Please have your account details with you when paying by telephone. BY STANDING ORDER A Standing Order form can be obtained by calling the Payment Line on 0161 770 6611 or the 24hr Form Request Line on 0161 770 3915 YOU CAN NO LONGER POST CHEQUES TO OMBC YOU CAN PAY BY CHEQUE AT THE POST OFFICE YOU CAN NO LONGER PAY IN PERSON AT THE CIVIC CENTRE - SEE ABOVE FOR ALTERNATIVES How to contact us Telephone / e-mail: Council tax Tel: 0161 770 6622 - Mon to Fri 8am to 6pm e-mail: [email protected] - Sat 9am to 1pm Benefits Tel: 0161 770 6633 - Mon to Fri 8am to 6pm e-mail: benefits @oldham.gov.uk - Sat 9am to 1pm Business Rates Tel: 0161 770 6677 - Mon to Fri 8.40 am to 5pm e-mail: [email protected] Debt Recovery Tel: 0161 770 4949 - Mon to Fri 8.40 am to 5pm e-mail: [email protected] Plus 24 hour form request line 0161 770 3915.Calls may be recorded. Post: PO Box 4, Civic Centre, West Street, Oldham OL1 1UH In person: Civic Centre - One Stop Shop, West Street, Oldham 16 Opening hours:- Monday to Friday - 8.40 am to 5.00 pm For Council Tax and Benefit enquiries you can also visit:- East Oldham One Stop Shop - Holt Street Opening hours:- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9.00 am to 4.30 pm Wednesday 10.00 am to 4.30 pm

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Oldham Council performing better for you Borough residents say that overall they are satisfied with their Council services. According to a recent residents’ survey completed by over 1,500 people overall satisfaction with all Council services has increased by about a third. Improving performance is a high priority for the Council and the work to do better still in providing efficient, value for money services to residents is continuing. One of the Council’s key frontline services - adult social care - now has a two star rating from Government. A remarkable achievement and turn around from its zero- rating just three years ago. National watchdogs and agencies like the Audit Commission have commented favourably on the Council’s performance management and service improvement work, e-government progress, management of public parks, promotion of community cohesion and efficiency in processing planning applications, to name but some. www.oldham.gov.uk 18

ARE YOU registered tovote yet? Are you planning to vote in the Borough and Parish council elections to be held on Thursday 3 May 2007? If you are, you must first be on the Register of Electors. If you haven’t registered yet you still have some time to do so as new rules mean you can apply to be on the Register of Electors about two weeks before polling day. Please contact the Elections Office on 0161 770 4712/4718 or email: [email protected] for details as soon as possible. If you normally vote by post or by proxy important new rules have been introduced and if you wish to vote this way in the 3 May elections you should contact the Elections Office as soon as possible for more details. 19

A Borough striving to be Oldham Council’s Street Scene team works tirelessly to keep the Borough clean, safe and green. Improvements are being made but it’s a big job - there’s about 600 miles of roads and 23 parks to be swept and kept free of litter, not to mention 1,700 street litter bins to empty. From 4am to 7pm each working day chances are you’ll see a Council Street Scene worker in action as we strive to make our Borough clean, safe and green. Removal of litter, fly-tipped waste, dog dirt and other discarded items - as well as graffiti - is complemented by education campaigns to discourage such irresponsible and anti-social behaviour. Stringent enforcement action involving fixed penalty fines and prosecutions add further potency to the work of the Environmental Action Unit. Join the Council’s Street Scene team in the drive to make our Borough clean, safe and green by reporting any problems you see to Contact Oldham on 0161 770 6644. 20

770 is the new prefix for Oldham Council telephone numbers. It replaces the existing prefixes of 911 & 222 which will be phased out by June 2007. But you can use 770 now instead of 911 or 222 so why not get into the habit straightaway and use 770 when contacting the Council. Help safeguard our children The new Oldham Local Safeguarding Children Board is working to address the issue of child sexual exploitation in the Borough. Its main aim is to ensure that agencies - the Council, Police, Primary Care Trust and Barnado’s - all work together to protect our children. At present an initiative called 'Messenger' is focussed on identifying and supporting children who may be involved in sexual exploitation and the prosecution of adults who target children to exploit them in this way. Parents, professionals and other adults are encouraged to look out for signs which could indicate that children are at risk. These include missing school, changing friends, becoming evasive about their whereabouts, staying out late or not returning home at night, having unexplained money or gifts and beginning to use alcohol or drugs. Of course all of these individually could just be part of normal adolescent behaviour but taken together they may be cause for concern. Anyone worried about a child should call the Children’s Assessment Team on 0161 770 3790 for guidance and advice or Childline on 0800 1111. Information about a possible crime should be reported to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. 21

Useful telephone numbers Emergency, out-of-hours & weekends only Council house repairs 0161 624 8286 Other emergencies connected with: Highways/street lights 0161 770 4580 Sewers 08456 020406 Main Council switchboard 0161 770 3000 Abandoned vehicles 0161 770 6644 Adoptions/fostering/aftercare 0161 770 6660/6605 Animal Warden Service 0161 770 4508 Benefits (Council Tax/Housing/rebates) 0161 770 6633 Building control 0161 770 4122 Citizens Advice Bureau 0845 120 3703 Council Tax 0161 770 6622 Drainage (road gullies) 0161 770 4325 Education – general enquiries 0161 770 4260 Elections Office/Electoral Register 0161 770 4718 First Choice Homes Oldham 0161 770 3576 Flytipping 0161 770 6644 [email protected] Food control 0161 770 4484 Gallery Oldham 0161 770 4653 Graffiti/Litterbusters 0161 770 6644 Housing Options Centre 0800 328 7788 Libraries 0161 770 8000 Oldham Promobility 0161 633 0040 Parking Payments hotline 0870 112 3685 Pest Control 0161 770 4509 Planning enquiries 0161 770 4105 [email protected] Pollution control 0161 770 4502 Potholes (general) 0161 770 4325 Recycling 0161 770 4448 Road Safety 0161 770 4343 Registration of: Births, Marriages and Deaths 0161 678 0137 Street lighting faults 0161 770 4336 Taxi Licensing 0161 770 4730 Tree enquiries 0161 770 6644 Tourist Information Centres: Oldham 0161 627 1024 Saddleworth 01457 870336 Trading Standards advice 08454 040506 Welfare Rights Service 0161 770 6655 Wheelie Bins/Refuse Collection 0161 770 6644 Websites www.oldham.gov.uk www.visitoldham.co.uk 22

You can’t send us cheques anymore For all payment methods please turn to pages 15 & 16 Date 20th January 2007 POpanyoueOntlhddsohuaasnamdndonMtehrpBeeenChceundredAccount Payee and thirteen £ 1313.01 Account number Mr A Wild Alan Wild Sort code Cheque number You can pay by cheque at the Post Office Data Protection AG/47851/02/07 This Authority is under duty to protect the public funds it administers, and to this end may use the information you have provided for Council Tax purposes within this Authority for the prevention and detection of fraud. It may also share this information with other bodies administering public funds solely for these purposes.