Issue - meetings

2019/20 Council Tax Reduction Scheme

Meeting: 11/02/2019 - Cabinet (Item 13)

13 2019/20 Council Tax Reduction Scheme pdf icon PDF 1 MB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Cabinet gave consideration to a report of the Director of Finance which sought approval of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2019/20 and to recommend the scheme to Council for approval.

It was reported that it was a requirement each year that a billing authority must formally consider revising its Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS).

To accord with the legislative timetable any changes to the scheme must be agreed by full Council in line with budget setting and no later than 10th March 2019.

Cabinet in August 2018 agreed to a full public consultation focusing on areas of review that either maintained the status quo or introduced changes that would be beneficial to the claimant.

The consultation sought views on the maintenance of the maximum support afforded under the scheme of 85% of a Band A Council Tax property charge, a range of changes to the calculation of Council Reduction for Universal Credit claimants and the alignment of income disregards, already in place in the national Housing Benefit Scheme with the local Council Tax Reduction Scheme.

A public consultation was carried out over the period 12th September 2018 to 24th October 2018. Overall respondents were in favour of the proposals with an average of 77% agreement across the four changes and 71% in favour of maintaining the current 85% scheme.

The Overview and Scrutiny Performance and Value for Money Select Committee at its meeting of the 24th January 2019 was content to agree to the proposed 2019/20 Council Tax Reduction scheme and commended to Cabinet.

Options/Alternatives considered

Option 1 - Maintain the present level of support i.e. Limiting the level of support at 85% of Council Tax  of a Band A property as the maximum amount available and

Change 1 – Making a Claim – Information received by the Council from the DWP relating to a claim for Universal Credit could be treated as a claim for Council Tax Reduction.

Change 2 – Earnings Disregard – As detailed within the report.

Change 3 – Housing Costs – Universal Credit Claimants as detailed within the report.

Change 4 – Disregarded Income as detailed within the report.

 

RESOLVED – That the Cabinet approved and commended to Full Council the proposed Council Tax Reduction Scheme changes for 2019/20:

  1. To continue to limit support to a maximum of 85% of Council Tax of a Band A property
  2. Treat information received from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) about Universal Credit entitlement as a claim for Council Tax Reduction
  3. Apply earnings disregards for Universal Credit/Council Tax Reduction (UC/CTR) claims as set out below
  • Single claimant £5 per week
  • Couple £10 per week
  • Disabled/Carer £20 per week
  • Lone Parent £25 per week
  1. Incorporate housing costs into the UC/CTR calculation
  2. Apply disregards for Bereavement Support Allowance and post graduate master’s degree loan and special support payments in the assessment of Council Tax Reduction

 

 

The meeting started at 6.00pm and ended at 18.28