Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Customer and Digital attached.

Decision made (Unanimously):

1.    Cabinet notes the outcomes of the consultation.

2.    Cabinet recommends to Council the amendment of the scheme to reflect the removal of the minimum payment (£3.50 charge for passported claimants).

3.    Cabinet notes the further work undertaken in relation to the second homes and empty homes premium.

4.    Cabinet notes the budget implications.

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 provided an update on the outcome of the consultation exercise carried out with preceptors and residents in relation to proposed changes to the Council Tax Support Scheme (CTSS). The consultation will inform the proposal for introducing an amended scheme for the year 2020/21. Members were also provided with a copy of the consultation documentation appended to the report.

The report set out the outcomes from the consultation undertaken in line with Government guidance and legislation. The report also provided a rationale for an amendment to the existing scheme which will in effect remove the minimum payment of £3.50 for passported claimants. The Cabinet agreed that this work was now complete.

The Cabinet Member thanked officers for providing a report that was easy to understand for such a complex subject and asked Members to leave any debate to the Council meeting on 29 January 2020, when the report on the amended scheme would be considered for decision.

Decision made (Unanimously):

1.    Cabinet notes the outcomes of the consultation.

2.    Cabinet recommends to Council the amendment of the scheme to reflect the removal of the minimum payment (£3.50 charge for passported claimants).

3.    Cabinet notes the further work undertaken in relation to the second homes and empty homes premium.

4.    Cabinet notes the budget implications.

Reason(s) for the decision:

The Council is committed to protecting the most vulnerable applicants and would like to increase the financial assistance available to them by increasing support available for certain vulnerable groups.

The adoption of a revised Council Tax Support Scheme (CTSS) is a priority in the refreshed Corporate Plan.

To ensure that any future, new or revised scheme reduces the burden of Universal Credit and satisfies 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:

Contained within the proposals in the report. Options 1, 2 and 3.