Council Tax Survey Results

The survey asked residents to share their views on a potential raise in Council Tax rates for the period 2023/24, as well as asking their opinion on a range of general principles which would be put to Councillors for future budget setting meetings. 

Over 78% of respondents indicated that they would support a rise in Council Tax rates.

• 21.64% said they would prefer to see no rise – meaning less money for us to spend on services.
• 26.42% favoured a rise of 3%, adding 70p a week to a band D property, and raising around £310K more for services.
• 27.56% indicated they would support a rise of 4.5%, adding £1.04 a week more to bills and raising around £460k more.
• 24.37% said they felt a raise of 7% would be best, adding £1.62 a week to bills, and raising around c£720k more.

These figures have been shared with Councillors ahead of today's (Wednesday 22nd February 2023) meeting to set Council Tax rates for 2023/24 

Additional questions asked residents to say whether they agreed or disagreed with statements about general principles which officers would be putting to Councillors as part of future budget setting meetings. 

• 72.33% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that some major projects would need to be delayed while markets remain overheated. 
• 81.25% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that we should change our approach to recruitment by checking, firstly, whether we really need to fill vacant posts and, if necessary, changing how we work and what we do so we know we’re meeting our commitments, rather than relying on agency staff to fill roles.
• 65.68% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that we need to stop drawing so heavily on reserves to deliver services, limiting our spending to approximately £15 million a year, to ensure reserves remain available to deliver services for future generations. 
• 84.09% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that we should make sure our charges to service users are realistic and appropriate and should explore new opportunities for income generation, such as through the work of Shetland Telecom, or by using School facilities for other purposes during holiday periods.

The full results of the survey are available to view below:

Our Budget Challenge Survey Results

1. Council Tax

Last year, the SIC raised £10.3 million through Council Tax (around 8% of our total annual funding). We’re looking at increasing the tax for the first time in three years, to help pay for your services.

• No increase would mean we’d have less money to pay for services
• 3% increase would mean you’d pay 70p a week more on a Band D property (raising c£310K more for Council services)
• 4.5% increase would mean paying £1.04 a week more (raising c£460K more)
• 7% increase would mean paying £1.62 a week more (raising c£720K more)

Which of these options do you think is best?

Answered: 878

Skipped: 3

2. Major Projects

The cost of major projects has risen enormously – due to the price of materials, labour, etc. We think we need to focus on housing/energy efficiency measures, developing our connectivity network, and maintaining our existing assets. Some projects are already underway, and we’ll continue planning for others, but we may delay starting other unfunded, major projects while the market is overheated. This shouldn’t affect how we deliver services. Do you agree?

Answered: 878

Skipped: 3

3. Vacancies and Recruitment

We have problems filling some vacant posts – which puts more pressure on other people in that service, and means we often have to pay for expensive agency staff. This is a problem for a lot of councils. We want to change the way we deal with this by checking, firstly, whether we really need to fill these posts and, if necessary, change how we work and what we do so we know we’re meeting our commitments. Do you agree?  

Answered: 880

Skipped: 1

4. Council Reserves

We take too much money out of our reserves every year to help pay for your services. To keep the original funds secure, and protect ourselves from things like inflation and fluctuations in global markets, we know we can safely spend c.£15 million a year. We want to get back to that position in the next few years so that we keep the original funds secure, and that future generations can enjoy similar services to ourselves. Do you agree?

Answered: 880

Skipped: 1

5. Maximising Income

We need to make sure all our charges are set at a level which is realistic and appropriate – to individual service users, and those companies and industries which use our facilities. We also need to make the most of new opportunities – for example, developing the work of Shetland Telecom, and using some school facilities for things like caravan parking and holiday accommodation during school holidays. Do you agree?

Answered: 880

Skipped: 1

6. Residency

Please confirm you are resident in Shetland.

Answered: 881

Skipped: 0