Issue - meetings

Report of Chief Finance Officer

Purpose of report

To provide members with an update on the current Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS) and the changes to discounts, including the impact on collection rates, and to provide members with options to consider for a Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2017-2018 and to seek approval to consult on the approved option.    

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

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

1.2     To approve the recommendation made by Budget Planning Committee to consult on Option 1 – no change to the current Council Tax Reduction Scheme or Council Tax discounts for 2017-2018 and to change only the detail of the scheme to update the Pensioner Regulations as prescribed by DCLG and to uprate the Working Age Regulations amounts in line with Housing Benefit.

Resolved

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

(2)          That the recommendation made by Budget Planning Committee to consult on Option 1 - (no change to the current Council Tax Reduction Scheme or Council Tax discounts for 2017-2018 and to change only the detail of the scheme to update the Pensioner Regulations as prescribed by DCLG and to uprate the Working Age Regulations amounts in line with Housing Benefit) be approved.

The Chief Finance Officer submitted a report to provide Members with an update on the current Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS) and the changes to discounts, including the impact on collection rates, and to provide Members with options to consider for a Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2017-2018 and to seek approval to consult on the approved option.    

Resolved

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

(2)          That the recommendation made by Budget Planning Committee to consult on Option 1 – no change to the current Council Tax Reduction Scheme or Council Tax discounts for 2017-2018 and to change only the detail of the scheme to update the Pensioner Regulations as prescribed by DCLG and to uprate the Working Age Regulations amounts in line with Housing Benefit be approved.

Reasons

From April 2013 Council Tax Benefit was abolished and replaced with a local Council Tax Reduction Scheme.

Members are now required to agree for consultation purposes a Council Tax Reduction Scheme for the 2017-2018 financial year.

Alternative options

Option 1: To not recommend any of the options for a scheme for -2017-2018. This would have financial implications for the Council and those residents affected by Welfare Reform.