Agenda, decisions and minutes


Venue: Bodicote House, Bodicote, Banbury, OX15 4AA

Contact: Emma Faulkner, Democratic and Elections  Email: democracy@cherwellandsouthnorthants.gov.uk, 01295 221953

Items
No. Item

26.

Declarations of Interest

Members are asked to declare any interest and the nature of that interest which they may have in any of the items under consideration at this meeting.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

27.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 57 KB

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 24 September 2019.

Minutes:

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 24 September 2019 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

28.

Chairman's Announcements

To receive communications from the Chairman.

Minutes:

There were no Chairman’s announcements.

29.

Urgent Business

The Chairman to advise whether they have agreed to any item of urgent business being admitted to the agenda.

 

Minutes:

There were no items of urgent business.

30.

Monthly Performance, Risk and Finance Monitoring Report - August 2019 pdf icon PDF 63 KB

Report of Executive Director – Finance (Interim) and Assistant Director – Performance and Transformation.

 

***Please note the covering report for this item will be to follow***

Additional documents:

Decision:

Resolved

 

(1)      That the report be noted.

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report from the Executive Director – Finance (Interim) and Assistant Director – Performance and Transformation that detailed Finance Monitoring for August 2019.

 

In response to questions from the Committee, the Executive Director – Finance (Interim) explained that Disabled Facility Grants were linked to referrals from Oxfordshire County Council, therefore any reduction in the amount of appropriate schemes referred would mean a reduced amount of grants being awarded.

 

Resolved

 

(1)       That the report be noted.

31.

Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2020-2021 pdf icon PDF 130 KB

Report of Executive Director – Finance (interim).

 

Purpose of report

 

To provide members with an update on the recent consultation process that has taken place on the options for a Council Tax Reduction Scheme for the financial year 2020-2021 and to seek a recommendation to Executive as to the scheme for 2020-2021.

 

To outline the Council Tax discounts for the financial year 2020-2021.

 

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 2020-2021.

 

1.3    To review the proposed level of Council Tax discounts and premiums for 2020-2021 and make recommendations to Executive as follows: 

 

·         Retain the discount for second homes at zero

·         Retain the discount for empty homes (unoccupied and substantially       unfurnished) at 25% for 6 months and thereafter at zero.

·         Retain the discount for empty homes undergoing major repairs at 25%   for 12 months and thereafter at zero.

·         Retain the empty homes premium of an additional 100% for properties that have remained empty for more than 2 years.

Additional documents:

Decision:

Resolved

 

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

 

(2)      That Option 1, a new banded income Council Tax Reduction Scheme for those of working age, be recommended to Executive for consideration as the Council Tax Scheme for 2020-2021

 

(3)      That, having given due consideration, Executive be recommended to retain the following level of Council Tax discounts and premiums for 2020-2021:

 

·         Discount for second homes at zero

·         Discount for empty homes (unoccupied and substantially unfurnished) at 25% for 6 months and thereafter at zero

·         The discount for empty homes undergoing major repairs at 25% for 12 months and thereafter at zero

·         The empty homes premium of an additional 100% for properties that have remained empty for more than 2 years

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report which detailed a proposed new Council Tax Reduction Scheme, and suggested levels of Council Tax discounts and reductions for 2020-2021.

 

The Operations Director – CSN Resources explained that a comprehensive consultation process had been carried out regarding the proposed changed to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme. Information had been published on the council website and on social media platforms, events had been held in Banbury, Bicester and Kidlington, as well as letters and phone calls to residents already in receipt of discounts.

 

It was proposed by Councillor Mawer and seconded by Councillor Bignell that Option 1, a new banded income Council Tax Reduction Scheme for those of working age, be recommended to Executive for consideration as the Council Tax Scheme for 2020-2021.

 

It was proposed by Councillor Mawer and seconded by Councillor Webb that, having given due consideration, Executive be recommended to retain the following level of Council Tax discounts and premiums for 2020-2021:

 

·      Discount for second homes at zero

·      Discount for empty homes (unoccupied and substantially unfurnished) at 25% for 6 months and thereafter at zero

·      The discount for empty homes undergoing major repairs at 25% for 12 months and thereafter at zero

·      The empty homes premium of an additional 100% for properties that have remained empty for more than 2 years

 

Resolved

 

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

 

(2)      That Option 1, a new banded income Council Tax Reduction Scheme for those of working age, be recommended to Executive for consideration as the Council Tax Scheme for 2020-2021

 

(3)      That, having given due consideration, Executive be recommended to retain the following level of Council Tax discounts and premiums for 2020-2021:

 

·         Discount for second homes at zero

·         Discount for empty homes (unoccupied and substantially unfurnished) at 25% for 6 months and thereafter at zero

·         The discount for empty homes undergoing major repairs at 25% for 12 months and thereafter at zero

·         The empty homes premium of an additional 100% for properties that have remained empty for more than 2 years

32.

Review of Committee Work Plan

To review the Committee Work Plan.

 

The Assistant Director – Finance (Interim) will give a verbal update.

Decision:

Resolved

 

(1)      That the verbal update be noted.

Minutes:

The Committee considered the indicative committee work plan.

 

The Chairman advised the Committee that in the event of a General Election being called on 12 December, he would discuss with officers the possibility of postponing the meeting currently scheduled for 10 December.

 

Notwithstanding the possible postponement, the Executive Director – Finance (Interim) explained that the management team would be in attendance for the next meeting of the Committee, to go through the draft budget for the 2020-2021 financial year and answer any questions. All Members of the Council would be encouraged to attend.

 

Resolved

 

(1)       That the verbal update be noted.