Written question asked by David Wilshire (Conservative) on Wednesday, 10 June 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 12 June 2009. It was answered by Sarah McCarthy-Fry (Labour) on Tuesday, 16 June 2009 on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Surrey Police: Council Tax

Question: (2) what information (a) the Secretary of State and (b) (i) Ministers and (ii) officials in his Department provided to Surrey Police in July 2008 on the notional council tax precept to be used when setting its 2009-10 budget.

Answer: Officials wrote to the authority on 26 June 2008 informing it that the Secretary of State had proposed a notional budget requirement of £189,622,000 for 2008-09. The authority subsequently exercised its right to challenge its proposed notional budget requirement.Officials then wrote to the authority on 11 September 2008 informing it that, having carefully considered its challenge, the Secretary of State had confirmed the notional budget requirement of £189,622,000 for 2008-09.Further correspondence from officials beginning on 24 October 2008 (in response to a query from Surrey police on 21 October) confirmed that, in the event that Ministers decided to cap in 2009-10 and included a council tax capping principle, such a principle would operate with reference to a notional level of council tax for 2008-09.

Secondary information