Issue - meetings

To receive and consider the report of the Director of Customer and Digital. 

To approve the following revisions to the Council Tax Support Scheme:

a.         Removal of the baseline Council Tax charge of £3.50 per week for working age claimants in receipt of:

o     Universal Credit and some level of earnings or non-disregarded other income

o     Other low-income groups not receiving Universal Credit nor a passported benefit

b.      The revised scheme is approved with effect from 1 April 2022.

The Cabinet Member (Communities, Social Justice and Wealth Building), Councillor Aniela Bylinski Gelder, presented the report of the Director of Customer and Digital which set out proposals to change the South Ribble Council Tax Support Scheme from 1 April 2022.

Having consulted on the scheme, the proposal aimed to make the scheme fairer and simpler for residents, and more focused to support the households most in need.  This complimented the findings from the Scrutiny Review of Health Inequalities by demonstrating the Council’s continued commitment to supporting the most vulnerable households and taking steps to improve the mental health and wellbeing of residents.  Consultation with precepting authorities on proposed changes to the scheme was statutory.

Members debated the proposal and differing opinions were raised, both that the changes were the right thing to do and alternatively, that policies were already in place. 

It was proposed by the Cabinet Member (Communities, Social Justice and Wealth Building), Councillor Aniela Bylinski Gelder, seconded by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Paul Foster, and subsequently

Resolved (by majority 23:0:9)

To approve the following revisions to the Council Tax Support Scheme:

a.         Removal of the baseline Council Tax charge of £3.50 per week for working age claimants in receipt of:

o     Universal Credit and some level of earnings or non-disregarded other income

o     Other low-income groups not receiving Universal Credit nor a passported benefit

b.      The revised scheme is approved with effect from 1 April 2022.

For: Councillors Will Adams, Renee Blow, Jane Bell (Mayor), Aniela Bylinski Gelder, Bill Evans, James Flannery, Paul Foster, Harry Hancock, Mick Higgins, Clare Hunter, Susan Jones, Chris Lomax, Keith Martin, Colin Sharples, David Shaw, Mick Titherington, Caleb Tomlinson, Matthew Tomlinson, Angela Turner, Kath Unsworth, Ian Watkinson, Paul Wharton-Hardman and Carol Wooldridge

Abstain: Councillors Julie Buttery, Colin Coulton, Jim Marsh, Caroline Moon, Peter Mullineaux, Alan Ogilvie, Phil Smith, Karen Walton and Gareth Watson.

Report of the Director of Customer and Digital attached.

Decision made

That Cabinet recommends the following revisions to the Council Tax Support Scheme to Council:

a.     Removal of the baseline Council Tax charge of £3.50 per week for working age claimants in receipt of:

o   Universal Credit and some level of earnings or non-disregarded other income

o   Other low-income groups not receiving Universal Credit nor a passported benefit

b.     The revised scheme is approved with effect from 1 April 2022.

The Cabinet Member (Communities, Social Justice and Wealth Building) presented a report of the Director of Customer and Digital setting out proposals to change the South Ribble Council Tax Support Scheme from 1 April 2022. 

Decision made

That Cabinet recommends the following revisions to the Council Tax Support Scheme to Council:

a.     Removal of the baseline Council Tax charge of £3.50 per week for working age claimants in receipt of:

o   Universal Credit and some level of earnings or non-disregarded other income

o   Other low-income groups not receiving Universal Credit nor a passported benefit

b.     The revised scheme is approved with effect from 1 April 2022.

Reasons for decision

The revised scheme is fairer and simpler for residents, and it is also more focused to support the households most in need.

Other options considered and rejected

None, for the reasons given above.