Issue - meetings

Report of the Assistant Director of Finance

Purpose of report

To enable members to consider the proposed banded scheme for Council Tax Reduction (CTR) for 2025/26.

Recommendations

The Budget Planning Committee resolves:

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

1.2           To recommend to Executive that the current scheme is retained for 2025/26.

Resolved

(1)          That the contents of the report and any financial implications for the council be noted.

(2)          That Executive be recommended to agree to retain the current scheme for 2025/26.

The Assistant Director of Finance submitted a report to enable Members to consider the proposed banded scheme for Council Tax Reduction (CTR) for 2025/26.

In response to questions from the Committee regarding promotion and awareness of the scheme, the Head of Revenues and Benefit Services and Benefit Services and Performance Manager explained that information was available online on the council website, leaflets were included in council tax bills and the Department for Work and Pensions, and the council’s Customer Services team signposted and promoted the scheme. Customer Services advisors also assisted residents to fill in the application.

In response to Members’ questions regarding how the scheme was funded, the Head of Revenues and Benefit Services advised that the scheme was not funded, rather there was less council tax income. The in-year Council Tax collection rate for the 2023/24 financial year was 98.02%, which was the highest rate within the Oxfordshire authorities.

Resolved

(1)          That the contents of the report and any financial implications for the council be noted.

(2)          That Executive be recommended to agree to retain the current scheme for 2025/26.