Issue - meetings

The material relevant to this item is the report on pages 13 to 15 of the Cabinet agenda for 5 November 2019 and pages 1 to 32 of the Supplement to the Cabinet agenda for 5 November 2019.

The following recommendation was made to Council:

That the proposed Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2020-2021 be approved.

The Chairman invited Mr Wilding to introduce the report and referred members to pages 13 to 15 of the Cabinet agenda for 5 November 2019 and pages 1 to 32 of the supplement to the Cabinet agenda for 5 November 2019.

Mr Wilding explained that the Welfare Reform Act and Local Government Finance Acts of 2012 abolished the national Council Tax Benefit (CTB) scheme and a framework for local authorities to create their own local Council Tax Reduction (CTR) schemes was put in place from 1 April 2013. The council has been operating a CTR scheme for the last seven years and it is proposed to keep the scheme unchanged for the eighth year with the exception of alterations that bring the scheme in line with changes to legislation which have already occurred within the Housing Benefit scheme. These changes include the uprating of premiums, personal allowances and deductions. Mr Wilding confirmed that the council’s main aim remains to maintain levels of support to the least well off in its communities by maintaining levels of support which existed prior to April 2013 when localised CTR commenced. He explained that the council is one of a small number of councils that continues to provide a CTR scheme with up to a maximum award of 100%.

Mr Wilding proposed the recommendation which was seconded by Mrs Lintill.

In a show of hands the Council voted in favour.

RESOLVED

That the proposed Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2020-2021 be approved.

The Cabinet is requested to consider the agenda report and its appendix and make the following recommendation to Council:

That Cabinet recommends that the proposed Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2020-2021 be approved by Full Council.

RECOMMENDATION TO THE COUNCIL

That the proposed Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2020-2021 be approved.

Mr Wilding introduced the item. He explained that the Welfare Reform Act and Local Government Finance Acts of 2012 abolished the national Council Tax Benefit (CTB) scheme and a framework for local authorities to create their own local Council Tax Reduction (CTR) schemes was put in place from 1 April 2013. The council has been operating a CTR scheme for the last seven years and it is proposed to keep the scheme unchanged for the eighth year with the exception of alterations that bring the scheme in line with changes to legislation which have already occurred within the Housing Benefit scheme. These changes include the uprating of premiums, personal allowances and deductions. Mr Wilding confirmed that the council’s main aim remains to maintain levels of support to the least well off in its communities by maintaining levels of support which existed prior to April 2013 when localised CTR commenced. He explained that the council is one of a small number of councils that continues to provide a CTR scheme with up to a maximum award of 100%.

Mrs Lintill commented on the positive impact for local communities in maintaining the reduction scheme.

Decision

The Cabinet then voted unanimously to make the recommendation below.

RECOMMENDATION TO THE COUNCIL

That the proposed Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2020-2021 be approved.