To recommend to Council the continuation of the 2019/20 local council tax reduction scheme (CTR) for 2020/21.

Council tax charges can be reduced where the bill payer meets certain set criteria contained in the council tax reduction scheme (CTR). CTR is available to working age and pensioner claimants. The pensioner CTR scheme is set nationally. The working age CTR scheme is set locally by this council. Approximately 11,000 bill payers in Herefordshire are in receipt of CTR, with over 50% of claims from pensioners.

The current scheme was initially approved by Council on 18 December 2015.

It is a legal requirement to annually review the council’s council tax reduction scheme and the decision is reserved to full Council. The current scheme has been reviewed and there is no evidence to support a change at this time.

That:

The council tax reduction scheme for 2020/21, with the same parameters as the existing scheme, be recommended to Council for approval.

1.         The local council tax reduction scheme can be amended however the current scheme is working as intended and there is no evidence of a need to change. Any changes to the current scheme require statutory public consultation to be undertaken ahead of proposing scheme changes