Issue - meetings

Purpose of Report

To provide the Executive with an update to the current Council Tax Support Scheme for 2018/19 and to offer options for the 2019/20 Council Tax Support Scheme for Council approval by 31 January 2019.

Decision

The Executive:

(1)       Approves the proposed Council Tax Support Scheme for 2019/20 for public consultation and scrutiny, with all options to be put forward for consultation.

(2)       Approves the continuation of the £20,000 a year exceptional hardship fund for 2019/20 to top up Council Tax Support awards in appropriate cases, to be funded through the collection fund.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

None.

Reason for Decision

The City Council was obliged to approve a local Council Tax Support Scheme for 2019/20 by 31 January 2019, with schemes not able to be changed mid-financial year.

The consultation process for the draft Council Tax Support Scheme in respect of 2019/20 would begin on 1 November 2018 with major preceptors, stakeholders and members of the public. This was due to end on 14 December 2018.

A number of options which had been recommended for inclusion in the consultation were set out in paragraph 5.4 of the report and consisted of:

·         no change to the current scheme;

·         reducing the maximum savings limit;

·         increasing the minimum entitlement;

·         removing the family premium;

·         incorporation of Universal Credit changes;

·         consideration of Council Tax empty homes premium;

·         consideration of care leavers Council Tax exemption;

·         consideration of unoccupied and unfurnished properties.

It was noted that, under option 2 on Appendix 1 of the report, the final column on the table should read ‘impact per customer per week (£)’.

Discussion ensued on the impact of empty properties, particularly those that were furnished but remained unoccupied. It was noted that work was taking place to identify those properties and their particular circumstances in order that an attempt in liaison with the owner could be made to bring empty properties back to use in the city.