Local government finance circular 11/2022: settlement for 2023-2024
Local government finance circular containing the settlement for 2023-2024 and redeterminations for 2022-2023.
Local Government Finance Circular No. 11/2022
Chief Executives and Directors of Finance of Scottish Local Authorities
Chief Executive, Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA)
Our ref: A42066772
20 December 2022
Local government finance settlement 2023-24
Non-domestic rates
1. This Local Government Finance Circular provides details of the provisional total revenue and capital funding allocations for 2023-24, as well as the latest information on current known redeterminations for 2022-23. This Circular also provides details on a range of Non-Domestic Rates measures, including the proposed 2023-24 poundage and changes to certain reliefs.
2. The provisional total funding allocations form the basis for the annual consultation between the Scottish Government and COSLA ahead of the Local Government Finance (Scotland) Order 2023 being presented to the Scottish Parliament. This is currently scheduled for February 2023.
3. We expect local authorities to inform COSLA, and for COSLA in turn to inform the Scottish Government by no later than 27 January 2023, if they think there are any discrepancies or changes required to these provisional allocations. Redistribution(s) to address any agreed discrepancies or changes will be undertaken within the total settlement allocations set out in this Circular and not through the provision of any additional resources by the Scottish Government. The allocations are therefore provisional only at this stage, with the final allocations not being confirmed until after the end of the consultation period and the publication of the Local Government Finance Circular which will follow the approval of the Local Government Finance (Scotland) Order 2023.
4. The Deputy First Minister wrote to the COSLA President, copied to all Council Leaders on 15 December 2022, confirming the package of measures that make up the settlement to be provided to local government. This Circular should be read in conjunction with that letter. The terms of this settlement have been discussed with COSLA on behalf of all 32 of its member councils.
5. The Scottish Government will work in partnership with local government to implement the budget and the joint priorities in return for the full funding package worth over £13.2 billion and includes:
- £260 million to support the local government pay deal and also delivers additional funding to ensure that payment of SSSC fees for the Local Government workforce which will continue to be made on a recurring basis
- £72.5 million increase to the General Revenue Grant
- £105 million to give effect to the devolution of Non-Domestic Rates Empty Property Relief
- maintained key in-year transfers worth over £1 billion and added a further net £102 million of resource to protect key shared priorities particularly around education and social care
- £50 million capital to help with the expansion of the Free School Meals policy
- additional funding of £100 million to deliver a £10.90 minimum pay settlement for adult social care workers in commissioned services
- consolidation of £30.5 million for the homelessness prevention fund
6. In addition to the funding set out in this Circular it should be noted that there are a number of further revenue and capital funding streams outwith the local government finance settlement for particular policy initiatives which deliver on shared priorities and benefit local government services. Table 5.17 in the Scottish Government’s “Budget Document: 2023-24”, which was published on 15 December 2022, provides provisional details of these funding streams.
7. The allocations have been arrived at using the standard agreed needs-based distribution methodology and updated indicators. Any undistributed sums will be allocated in the standard way following consideration by the Settlement and Distribution Group. We have shared a separate note with COSLA providing a full reconciliation of the changes between the 2022-23 and 2023-24 Budgets and between the 2023-24 Budget and the figures in this Circular. We have also provided full details of all the revenue and capital allocations.
8. The various parts and annexes to this Circular, listed below, provide more of the detail behind the calculations.
Part A: Local Government Finance Settlement – Revenue: 2023-24 and changes in 2022-23
Part B: Local Government Finance Settlement – Capital: 2022-24
Part C: Non-Domestic Rates for 2023-24.
The various Annexes included in this Circular are as follows:
Annex A: All Scotland Aggregated Funding Totals 2022-24
Annex B: Individual Revenue Allocations for 2023-24
Annex C: Revised Individual Revenue Allocations for 2022-23
Annex D: Explanatory Notes on the Revenue Distribution
Annex E: Estimates of Ring-Fenced Grant Revenue Funding for 2023-24
Annex F: Floor calculation for 2023-24
Annex G: Redeterminations of Individual Revenue funding for 2022-23
Annex H: 2008-24 Changes Column
Annex I: General Capital Grant and Specific Capital Grants 2023-24
Annex J: General Capital Grant – Flood Allocations Per Local Authority 2023-24
Annex K: Updated General Capital Grant 2022-23, and
Annex L: Total Local Government Funding Settlement 2023-24
Part A: Local Government Finance Settlement - Revenue: 2023-24 and changes in 2022-23
9. This Finance Circular sets out the provisional distribution of revenue funding allocations for 2023-24. Annex A of this Circular sets out the all-Scotland aggregate totals for 2022-24.
10. Annexes B and C set out the distribution of the total revenue funding allocation between councils and the allocation of the different elements (General Revenue Funding, Non-Domestic Rate Income and Ring-Fenced Revenue Grants) for each council for 2023-24 and 2022-23. The basis behind the grant distribution methodology is as recommended in the report from the Settlement and Distribution Group (SDG). The explanatory notes contained in Annex D explain the basis behind the calculation of the individual council grant allocations.
11. Annex E gives a breakdown of the provisional individual council shares of all the ring-fenced revenue grant allocations for 2023-24.
12. The calculation and effects of the main floor adjustment for 2023-24, which provided councils with a minimum increase in the funding used in the calculation of the main floor of 1.95%, is set out in Annex F of this Circular. The setting of the floor is in line with the revised arrangements agreed following the SDG review of the floor methodology during 2018.
13. This Circular confirms the continuation of the 85% funding floor for 2023-24. The methodology compares total revenue funding plus local authorities’ assumed council tax income and any council whose total support under this method falls below 85% will be topped up to ensure that all councils receive 85% of the Scottish average total revenue support per head. As all 32 local authorities now exceed 85% of the Scottish average, no additional funding has been provided.
14. This Local Government Finance Circular provides details of current known 2022‑23 redeterminations at Annex G for the General Revenue Grant.
15. Annex H summarises the column within the settlement titled 2008-24 Changes Column.
Part B: Local Government Finance Settlement – Capital Grants 2022-24
16. In 2023-24 the Local Government Settlement provides capital grants totalling £826.6 million. This is made up of General Capital Grant totalling £687.5 million and Specific Capital Grants totalling £139.1 million.
17. Annex I sets out the provisional distribution of the Settlement for capital per local authority for 2023-24. The methodologies used to calculate these provisional allocations have been agreed with COSLA. Capital grants which remain undistributed are identified as such.
18. The provisional distribution for the General Capital Grant includes allocations for flood schemes. The allocations for these schemes is set out in Annex J. Where schemes have slipped and the grant paid in a prior year exceeds the grant due the scheme will show a negative value which will reduce the total General Capital Grant payable to that Council.
19. Annex K provides a breakdown of the updated 2022-23 General Capital Grant allocations by local authority.
20. Annex L summarises the Local Government Finance Settlement for 2023-24.
Part C: Non-Domestic Rates for 2023-24
21. The Distributable Amount of Non-Domestic Rates Income for 2023-24 has been provisionally set at £3,047 million. This figure uses the latest forecast of net income from non-domestic rates in 2023-24 and also draws on council estimates of the amounts they will contribute to the Non-Domestic Rating Account (the ‘Pool’) in 2022-23. The figure incorporates the Scottish Fiscal Commission’s estimate of the contributable amount and includes a calculation of gross income, expected losses from appeals, estimated expenditure on mandatory and other reliefs, write-offs and provision of bad debt together and estimated changes due to prior year adjustments. The distribution of Non-Domestic Rates Income for 2023-24 has been based on the amount each Council estimates that it will collect (based on the 2022-23 mid-year estimates provided by councils). General Revenue Grant provides the guaranteed balance of funding. This method of allocation provides a clear presentation of the Non-Domestic Rates Income per council and transparency in the make-up of council funding.
22. The 2023-24 Non-Domestic Basic Property Rate (‘poundage’) is provisionally set at 49.8 pence, the same rate as last year. Two additional rates are levied on properties with a rateable value over £51,000 (51.1 pence – the Intermediate Property Rate) and £100,000 (52.4 pence – the Higher Property rate), up from £95,000 in 2022-23.
23. The Scottish Budget 2023-24 announced the following changes to existing reliefs:
- the Small Business Bonus Scheme will be reformed: 100% relief will be available for properties with a rateable value of up to £12,000 and the upper rateable value for individual properties to qualify for SBBS relief will be extended from £18,000 to £20,000. To improve the design of the scheme, we are tapering SBBS relief for properties with a rateable value between £12,001 and £20,000: relief will taper from 100% to 25% for properties with rateable values between £12,001 to £15,000 and from 25% to 0% for properties with rateable values between £15,001 to £20,000. The cumulative rateable value threshold will remain at £35,000. Car parks, car spaces, advertisements and betting shops will be excluded from eligibility for SBBS from 1 April 2023
- business Growth Accelerator relief: properties receiving improvements relief for 2022-23 can continue to receive the same percentage of relief for the duration of the award in 2023-24
- eligibility for Fresh Start relief will be expanded by raising the rateable value threshold to which properties qualify from £95,000 to £100,000. In addition, properties receiving Fresh Start relief for 2022-23 can continue to receive it for the duration of the award in 2023-24, irrespective of their rateable value
- enterprise Areas relief will be extended for one year to 31 March 2024
24. The Scottish Budget 2023‑24 also introduces the following transitional reliefs for the 2023 revaluation:
- a Revaluation Transitional Relief to protect those most affected by revaluation with bills capped as per the table below
Year-on-year Scottish Transitional Relief caps (%)
|
Rateable Value |
2023-24 |
2024-25 |
2025-26 |
|
Small (up to £20,000) |
12.5 |
25 |
37.5 |
|
Medium (£20,001 to £100,000) |
25 |
50 |
75 |
|
Large (Over £100,000) |
37.5 |
75 |
112.5 |
- a Small Business Transitional Relief: those losing or seeing a reduction in these reliefs (including due to the eligibility changes introduced for Small Business Bonus Scheme relief) on 1 April 2023 the maximum increase in the rates liability relative to 31 March 2023 will be capped at £600 in 2023-24, rising to £1,200 in 2024-25 and £1,800 in 2025-26
25. The following reliefs will be maintained: charitable rates relief, day nursery relief (no longer time-limited), disabled rates relief, district heating relief, hardship relief, hydro relief, mobile masts relief, new fibre relief, renewable energy relief, renewable heat networks relief, reverse vending machine relief, rural relief, sports club relief and stud farms relief.
26. Empty Property Relief will be devolved to local authorities on 1 April 2023 covering all relief and rates exemptions for fully unoccupied properties including listed buildings, properties where the owner is in administration, etc. Partly unoccupied properties that the council requests be apportioned by the assessor will be liable for rates on the occupied portion only. Councils may offer their own local reliefs under the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 including to empty properties.
27. NDR reliefs, like other subsidy or support measures, may be subject to the Subsidy Control Act 2022.
28. We will also lay legislation to help local authorities better tackle known avoidance tactics.
29. In addition, a non-domestic rating exemption will be introduced for prescribed plant and machinery used in onsite renewable energy generation and storage from 1 April 2023 until 31 March 2035.
30. Information on the Business Rates Incentivisation Scheme (BRIS) will be set out later.
Enquiries relating to this Circular
31. It should be noted that figures in this Circular may be marginally different from final allocations due to roundings. Local authorities should note that if they have any substantive specific enquiries relating to this Circular these should, in the first instance, be addressed through COSLA. We have given an undertaking to respond to these queries as quickly as possible. Contact details for COSLA are:
Sarah Watters: Sarah@cosla.gov.uk
Any other queries should be addressed to the following:
Local Government Revenue Settlement and BRIS Bill Stitt: Bill.Stitt@gov.scot
Local Government Finance Settlement. (Capital) Craig Inglis: Craig.Inglis@gov.scot
Non-Domestic Rates. Anouk Berthier: Anouk.Berthier@gov.scot
32. This Circular, along with the supporting tables will be made available through the local government section of gov.scot.
Yours faithfully,
Bill Stitt
Team Leader, Local Government and Analytical Services Division
Annexes A-C (tables) are available in the accompanying spreadsheet.
The explanation of each of the columns within the tables at Annex B is as follows:
Column 1 – represents the updated on-going service provision and includes the following combined information: (i) the updated Grant Aided Expenditure (GAE) assessments, (ii) the revised Special Islands Needs Allowance (SINA), (iii) each council’s individual share of the on-going revenue grants which have been rolled up into the core local government finance settlement, (iv) each council’s share of all the baselined redeterminations since Spending Review 2007 and the previous loan charge adjustment.
Column 2 – is the new combined total, non‑ring‑fenced, changes in general provision resulting from Spending Reviews 2007, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015 and budget revisions for 2016 - 2024 allocated pro‑rata to each council’s share of TEE as agreed with the Settlement and Distribution Group (SDG).
Column 3 – represents the updated share of the loan charges support for outstanding debt and the same level of on-going PPP level playing field support. The methodology for calculating Loan Charge Support (LCS) and support for Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects (level playing field projects only (LPFS) is set out on Annex H of Finance Circular 2/2011.
Column 4 – is the main floor adjustment which has been calculated using the revised methodology agreed following the 2018 review.
Column 5 – this is the net revenue expenditure recognised by the Scottish Government and represents the sum of columns 1 to 4.
Column 6 – is the assumption of the amount of Total Estimated Expenditure to be funded from the council tax. Any changes are as a result of buoyancy or projected numbers of properties, as well as the estimated additional council tax income to be collected and retained by each local authority as a result of the changes to bands E to H.
Column 7 – is each council’s estimated share of the on-going Ring-Fenced Grants for Gaelic, Pupil Equity Fund (PEF), Criminal Justice Social Work, Early Learning and Childcare, and Inter-Island Ferries.
Column 8 – is each council’s share of the estimated non‑domestic rate income which has been distributed proportionately on the basis of council’s 2022-23 mid-year income.
Column 9 – is the balance of funding provided by means of general revenue funding and is calculated by deducting columns 6, 7 and 8 from the Total Estimated Expenditure in column 5.
Column 10 – represents the total revenue funding available to each council in 2023-24.
Column 11 – is the 85% floor adjustment which has been calculated to meet the Scottish Government’s commitment to ensure that no Local Authority receives less than 85% of the Scottish average per head in terms of revenue support.
Column 12 - is the revised total funding including all the changes and the 85% funding floor adjustments.
Annexes E-K (tables) are available in the accompanying spreadsheet.
Contact
Email: Bill.Stitt@gov.scot
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