§ Mr. Andrew MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many local councillors there are in each unitary authority with a population of less than 100,000. [20545]
§ Dr. WhiteheadThere are two unitary authorities in England with an estimated population of less than 100,000— Rutland and Hartlepool with 20 and 47 councillors respectively.
§ Mr. Andrew MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what is the applicable community charge or council tax charged by each unitary authority with a population of less than 100,000 (i) in the year immediately preceding their creation and (ii) in the following year. [20544]
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§ Dr. WhiteheadThe information is given in the tables.
Hartlepool borough council—unitary status created April 1996 1995–96 1996–97 Average band D council tax: The year before creation (£) The following year Percentage (£) Percentage change Hartlepool1 155 791 — Cleveland county council 558 — — Cleveland police authority 45 46 — Total area council tax2 759 837 10.3
Rutland county council—unitary status created April 1997 1996–97 1997–98 Average band D council tax: The year before creation The following year Percentage Percentage change Rutland1 103 741 — Leicestershire county council 483 — — Leicestershire police authority 45 52 — Total area council tax2 632 793 25.5 1Figures are not on a like-for-like basis because each authority did not have responsibility for upper tier functions, such as education or social services, before reorganisation took place 2Figures rounded to the nearest pound The other English unitary authorities created during local government reorganisation have a population of over 100,000.