Decision details

To seek approval to begin consultation on the proposals for the draft Council Tax Support Scheme.

The Local Government Finance Act 2012 requires Council’s to agree and adopt a scheme which reduces the amounts of council tax payable by persons whom it considers to be in financial need.  It specifies that for each financial year, each billing authority must consider whether to revise its existing scheme or replace it with another scheme no later than 31 January in the financial year preceding that for which the revised or replacement scheme is to have effect.

Following a period of public consultation, officers presented a proposed scheme which would see certain vulnerable groups retain the levels of support as in previous years under the now abolished Council Tax Benefit legislation and other working age customers facing a reduction in support. Full Council, at its meeting of 24 January 2013, agreed a scheme for the financial year ending 31 March 2014.  

This report sets out the proposals for the 2014/15 Council Tax Support scheme which, if adopted, should enable the Council to contain the cost within available resources. In order to ensure that the final scheme is robust and reasonable, a consultation exercise is proposed, which will inform the final scheme for adoption in January 2014.

RESOLVED that the Executive:

(a)       approves the draft scheme proposals for Council Tax Support as set out in the report. The draft scheme will contain the key principles as set out in our 2013/14 scheme prior to the decision by Members to make the necessary amendments in order to qualify for the transitional grant;

(b)       instructs officers to proceed with a period of public consultation to seek views on the draft scheme; and

(c)       notes the programme for implementation.