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Cost of living support

Advice and support to help manage the rising cost of living.

What your Council Tax pays for

Read how the Council Tax you pay is distributed to provide essential services.

We collect your Council Tax and put it into a separate fund called the collection fund.

This fund is then shared with Essex County Council, the Police Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex and parish and town councils. These components of your council tax are called "precepts".

The total of all precepts that will levied in Uttlesford in 2023/24 is £79,756,820. This results in an average total band D council tax of £2,044.67, an increase of £79.07 (4.02%) on the previous year.

Summary of average band D council tax bill

What you will pay in 2023/24 for each part of your bill if you live in a band D property and how this has changed compared with what you paid in 2022/23.

Authority2023/24 band D £Change compared with 2022/23 £
 
Essex County Council1,450.17+49.05 (+3.50%)
PFCC - Essex Fire80.28+4.95 (+6.57%)
PFCC - Essex Police233.46+14.94 (+6.84%)
Uttlesford District Council171.61+5.00 (+3.00%)
Town/Parish councils (average)109.15+5.13 (+4.93%)
   
Total Band D (average)2,044.67+79.07 (+4.02%)

The amount to be raised from Council Tax is then divided by the district's tax base to determine the amount each household has to pay.

The tax base is the total number of properties in the district converted to "band D equivalents" using ratios defined by law as follows:

  • a Band A dwelling pays 6/9ths of Band D
  • a Band B dwelling pays 7/9ths of Band D
  • a Band C dwelling pays 8/9ths of Band D
  • a Band D dwelling pays 9/9ths of Band D
  • a Band E dwelling pays 11/9ths of Band D
  • a Band F dwelling pays 13/9ths of Band D
  • a Band G dwelling pays 15/9ths of Band D
  • a Band H dwelling pays 18/9ths of Band D
     

Where your Council Tax goes

Council Tax is calculated using the precept levels set for funds required by Essex County Council, Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Fire and Rescue Authority and the individual town and parish councils together with the Council Tax requirement set by Uttlesford District Council.

Uttlesford District Council keeps just under 9 pence in every pound of your council tax.

Council Tax 2021/22 who gets what

 

The total of all precepts levied is therefore £79,756,820. This results in an average total Band D Council Tax of £1,965.60, an increase of £79.07 (4.02%) on the previous year.
 

Further information on Council Tax

Find out about the precept levels and funds required by Essex County Council, Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner and some of out town and parish councils.

Essex County Council logo, image of three sabres
About Essex County Council

How Essex County Council set their precept.

Essex Police badge logo
About Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex - Fire

How the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex set their Fire precept.

Essex Fire and Rescue Service badge logo
About Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex - Police

How the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex set their Police precept.
 

How parish and town councils calculate and spend Council Tax

Logo for Great Dunmow Town Council - "May Dunmow Prosper" crest
About Great Dunmow Town Council

How Great Dunmow Town Council set their precept.

Saffron Walden Town Crest
About Saffron Walden Town Council

How Saffron Walden Town Council set their precept.

Stansted Mountfitchet Crest
About Stansted Mountfitchet Parish Council

How Stansted Mountfitchet Parish Council set their precept.