Issue - meetings

The report Final Council Tax Support Scheme 2025/2026 was presented by the Deputy Chief Executive and Section 151 Officer.

The Committee were informed that the Council Tax Support Scheme had not changed to the one approved last year and was set out in Appendix A.  The only difference was that the whole scheme had been uprated by 1.7% in line with the approved increases in national benefits.

The Council bought in this scheme (banded) in 2021 and the full review undertaken in the last year’s budget suggested that most Councils now use this type of matrix.

For reference spending was circa £5 million on Council Tax Support through the collection fund, with 70% paid for by Worcestershire County Council (WCC), 13% paid for by Redditch Borough Council, 12% paid for by the Police and 5% by Fire.

There were circa 2,400 pension aged people receiving Council Tax Support (paid for by the Government) and 3,500 Working Aged.

The Portfolio Holder was happy to endorse the recommendations, and it was supported by other Members of the Executive Committee.

RECOMMENDED that

the Council Tax reduction Scheme be retained for the 2025-26 tax year, subject to uprating of income bands by 1.7% in-line with increases to national benefits as set out in the table at Appendix A.