Issue - meetings

Report of Assistant Director of Finance (Section 151 Officer)

Purpose of report

To enable members to consider the proposed banded scheme for Council Tax Reduction (CTR) Scheme for 2027/28.

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 2027/28.

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

(2)      That, having given due consideration, Executive be recommended to agree that the current scheme is retained for 2027/28.

The Assistant Director of Finance (Section 151 Officer) submitted a report to enable members to consider the proposed banded scheme for Council Tax Reduction (CTR) Scheme for 2027/28.

In introducing the report, as the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Councillor Hingley, advised the Committee that the scheme had been introduced in April 2020 following a period of consultation and engagement. In general, the scheme had been well received.  The current scheme, uprated for inflation, was proposed for 2027/28.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance reported that the CDC Council Tax collection rate for 2025/26 was 97.81%, which was one of the highest collection rates across Oxfordshire authorities.

In response to a question regarding how Local Government Reorganisation would affect the scheme, the Portfolio Holder for Finance explained that the Government had not yet given its decision on the future unitary councils in Oxfordshire. Each new unitary would be responsible for setting its own scheme which would need to be fit for purpose and in accordance with relevant legislation.

It was proposed by Councillor Vaitkus and seconded by Councillor Cherry that, having given due consideration, Budget Planning Committee recommend to the Executive that the current scheme be retained for 2027/28.

Resolved

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

(2)      That, having given due consideration, Executive be recommended to agree that the current scheme is retained for 2027/28.