Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Customer and Digital to follow.

Decision made (Unanimously):

That

1.    Cabinet notes the proposals detailed in the report.

2.    Cabinet notes and approves the process and timeline for consultation on Option 2.

3.    Cabinet notes and approves for further work to be undertaken in relation to the empty homes premium.

4.    Cabinet request that officers look into the detail of producing a Standard Financial Statement and consider its introduction from April 2020.

The Cabinet Member (Community Engagement, Social Justice and Wealth Building), Councillor Aniela Bylinski Gelder presented a report of the Director of Customer and Digital that updated on the current situation and sought agreement as to how to proceed with a formal consultation exercise which would inform the proposals for the introduction of an amended scheme in 2020/21.

The Cabinet Member set out the background and rationale for the council needing to address this issue. Councillor Aniela Bylinski Gelder also asked officers to look into the production of a Standard Financial Statement for April 2020.

The Interim Chief Executive also agreed to bring a report to the next Cabinet meeting on the implications of the Stop the Knock Campaign.

The Council’s previous intention was to consult and implement a new scheme in 2019/20. However, following Government changes to Universal Credit (UC) in the Chancellor’s Budget on 29 October 2018, meant there was a need to review the potential impact of the changes in relation to any local scheme that might have been implemented in April 2019.

The report provided further analysis as the basis for future consultation and measures that would be taken to proactively promote the scheme. The amended scheme is to be renamed the Local Support Scheme.

In response the Members questions in the audience, the consultation arrangements were outlined in detail. Clarification was also sought on the number of claimants on passported benefits as opposed to those who were not, but would still qualify for the payment.

It was explained that the introduction of the Empty Homes Premium could provide additional income that would offset the changes to the Council Tax Support Scheme. Empty homes can often be a blight in the community and this premium can encourage home owners to keep their properties tidy.

It was proposed by Councillor Aniela Bylinski Gelder, seconded by Councillor Paul Foster and

Decision made (Unanimously):

That

1.    Cabinet notes the proposals detailed in the report.

2.    Cabinet notes and approves the process and timeline for consultation on Option 2.

3.    Cabinet notes and approves for further work to be undertaken in relation to the empty homes premium.

4.    Cabinet request that officers look into the detail of producing a Standard Financial Statement and consider its introduction from April 2020.

Reason(s) for the decision:

1.     To assess the impact of the Council Tax Support Scheme in light of the introduction of Universal Credit.

2.     The adoption of a revised Council Tax Support Scheme has been agreed as a priority in the five year Corporate Plan (2018-23).

3.     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 mast take place with major preceptors and residents.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

The alternative options are detailed in the proposals section of the report.