Issue - meetings

Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2021-2022

Report of Director of Finance

Purpose of report

To provide members with an update on the Council Tax Reduction income banded scheme which was introduced from 1 April 2020 and to provide options for a Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2021-2022.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

1.1 To note the contents of the report, and any financial implications for the Council.

1.2 To recommend to Executive which option should be considered for the Council Tax Scheme for 2021-2022.

1.3 If the option of no change to the current scheme is recommended to Executive, members of this Committee are also asked to recommend that no consultation takes place. However, if another option is recommended to Executive, full consultation is required.

Additional documents:

Decision:

Resolved

(1) That the report and financial implications for the Council be noted

(2) That Option 1 – Retain the current banded scheme with only minor changes to government uprating figures – be recommended to Executive as the Council Tax Scheme for 2021-2022

(3) That no consultation take place, due to the recommendation to retain the current scheme

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report from the Operations Director CSN Resources regarding the Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2021-2022.

The Operations Director explained that the current scheme was based on a banding system, with support varying dependent on the level of household income. The Council could choose to retain the existing scheme, increase or decrease the level of support provided. If any changes were proposed, a consultation period would need to be held.

In response to questions from the Committee the Operations Director confirmed that a fund had been set up for the 2020-2021 financial year to help households who may need additional support following a reduction in benefit, but no applications for assistance had been made to date.

With regard to possible savings to the Council if the level of support the scheme provided was reduced, the Operations Director explained that the cost of officer time and carrying out a consultation exercise would need to be factored in against any savings.

It was proposed by Councillor Sean Woodcock and seconded by Councillor Barry Richards that Option 1 – Retain the current banded scheme with only minor changes to government uprating figures – be recommended to Executive as the Council Tax Scheme for 2021-2022.