Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Customer and Digital attached.

RESOLVED (Unanimously)

That:

1.    Cabinet notes the recent Government budget announcements and the remodelling work carried out to inform the formal consultation required to adopt a revised Council Tax Support Scheme for 2020/21.

2.    Cabinet notes the proposed work to proactively promote the hardship funds.

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Customer and Digital that informed them on the steps being undertaken by the Council on the remodelling of the Council Tax Support Scheme. The report also provided information on the work being undertaken to actively promote the Exceptional Hardship Fund.

The Deputy Chief Executive of Resources and Transformation explained that it was important for the Council to consult with their major preceptors before undertaking statutory consultation with its residents and in response to a Member question outside the Cabinet, confirmed that the authority had made a concerted effort to reduce its use of bailiffs for debt collection purposes.

The Cabinet Member (Finance) also talked about the importance of proactively promoting the local hardship scheme in the community by advertising this support at key sites across the Borough.

Decision made (Unanimously)

That:

1.    Cabinet notes the recent Government budget announcements and the remodelling work carried out to inform the formal consultation required to adopt a revised Council Tax Support Scheme for 2020/21.

2.    Cabinet notes the proposed work to proactively promote the hardship funds.

Reason(s) for the decision:

1.     The adoption of a revised Council Tax Support Scheme has been agreed as a priority in the Corporate Plan 2018/23 and Medium Term Financial Strategy.

2.     To ensure that any future, new or revised scheme is intended to address the potential administrative burden of the rollout of Universal Credit and satisfy the statutory requirement within the localisation of Council Tax Support that consultation must take place with major preceptors and residents.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None.