Issue - meetings

To consider the results of the public consultation on options for changes to the Council’s Local Council Tax Support Scheme and proposals for a new scheme which are based on the outcome of the initial consultation.

(Report attached)

The Committee considered a report which presented proposals for an amendment to the Council’s existing Council Tax Support Scheme as there was a requirement upon the Council to review the Scheme on an annual basis. The report contained the responses to an initial period of consultation and Members were asked to agree proposals for a further period of public consultation. Additional information was circulated to Members at the meeting detailing the impact on individuals within the Borough of the various options under consideration.

It was noted that there was variation across the county in what was being proposed with Councils consulting on entitlement to Council Tax support being capped at 80%, 90% and 100% of Council Tax liability. Discussions had taken place with the County Council over the proposals and there was an expectation that it would provide a hardship fund should the Borough Council make provision to meet the projected shortfall in full. The impact on the County Council and other public authorities, most particularly the Police and Fire and Rescue Services, was highlighted as a reason for taking the difficult decision to reduce entitlement to Council Tax Support. Members were also reminded that a further report on Council Tax Exemptions would be presented to the next meeting of the Executive Committee.

RESOLVED that

1)           the outcome of the initial statutory consultation on options for changes to the Local Council Tax Scheme be noted;

2)           for the purposes of the further statutory consultation that is required, the current Scheme be amended, namely  that entitlement to Council Tax support should be capped at 80% of Council Tax liability so that all working age claimants will pay a minimum of 20% towards their Council Tax Liability, and that the amended version shall become the proposed draft Scheme 2014/15;

3)           the Executive Director of Finance and Resources be authorised to consult on this draft Scheme;

4)           a report on the outcome of the further consultation be brought back to the Committee in due course for a decision on its recommendation to Council on the Scheme to be adopted from April 2014; and

5)        Officers be instructed to explore and report back options for a hardship fund, as well as further technical changes to Council Tax Exemptions.