To recommend the revisions to the current council tax reduction (CTR) scheme for approval by Council in December.

In response to a request from the chairman of the general overview and scrutiny committee, the Leader confirmed that the hardship fund would be publicised so it could be accessed by the people who were in need of support.

Referring to the equality impact assessment, the deputy leader asked what mitigation was in place to support those who might be unable to pay and what would be the impact if the council accepted the government offer of 2% increase in Council tax.

The director of resources explained that there were arrangements in place for recovery of non-payment of council tax and for those with genuine inability to pay, there would be a review of the hardship scheme so that there were more options to claim relief. 

The Leader acknowledged a request from the group leader of the Greens to have more information on the impact once the revisions were in place in order to explore mitigation for significant hardship. 

RESOLVED

THAT

It be recommended to Council that:

a)         the following revisions to the CTR scheme be approved:

i.          reduce the maximum level of CTR subsidy from 84% to 80% for certain claimants;

ii.         protect CTR at 84% where the claimant is in receipt of either severe disability premium or carer’s allowance, or households with a child under the age of five;

iii.        a claimant who lives in a property above band C would have their CTR capped at 80% of a band C equivalent property in their parish; and

iv.        the amount of capital, excluding property, above which claimants cannot claim CTR be reduced from £16k to £6k and

b)         the revised CTR scheme is implemented for the financial years 2016/17 and 2017/18.