Issue - meetings

Report FSD19068

The Executive considered a report seeking a decision on the Authority’s recommended Council Tax Support/Reduction scheme to be included in the annual public consultation exercise.

It was expected that the exercise would take place towards the end of August. The results of the consultation exercise would be reported to the meeting of the Executive on November 27^th.  To comply with statutory obligations, the scheme would need to be adopted by 31^st January 2020. 

At the Executive, Resources and Contracts PDS Committee meeting on 30^th July, Members considered that, in view of the financial pressures on the Council, increasing the level of contributions from claimants occupying larger properties should be considered. It was confirmed that some authorities already did this. Additional information regarding this had been circulated before the Executive’s meeting. 

The Head of Revenues and Benefits tabled additional information concerning the projected costs of schemes based on calculations being restricted to the liability of Council Tax Bands ‘D’, ‘E’, and ‘F’. 

The Executive considered the ER&C PDS’ comments, but decided that a wider policy review for future years would be preferable to adapting the scheme as had been suggested.

RESOLVED that

(1) The Council Tax Support/Reduction Scheme (CTS) is forwarded for public consultation based on 75% liability for working-age claimants.  All other elements of the scheme should remain unchanged, subject to annual benefit uprating, legislative changes to the Council Tax Support/Reduction Scheme and maintaining alignment with the Housing Benefit Scheme.