Issue - meetings

Purpose of Report

To provide the Executive with an update to the current Council Tax Support Scheme for 2019/20 and to propose effectively a ‘no change’ 2020/21 Council Tax Support Scheme that Council would need to approve by 31 January 2020.

Proposals were also made in relation to an Exceptional Hardship Scheme as well as regarding Council Tax changes.

The Executive was requested to consider the proposals that should be put to public consultation.

Decision

That the Executive:

(1)       Supports the proposed ‘no change’ Council Tax Support Scheme for           2020/21 for public consultation and scrutiny.

(2)       Supports continuation of the £20,000 Exceptional Hardship Fund for 2020/21 to top up Council Tax Support awards in appropriate cases for public consultation and scrutiny.

(3)       Supports the Council Tax proposed changes for public consultation and scrutiny for 2020/21 with regard to the Care Leavers exemption and Council Tax empty homes premium.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Alternative options considered and rejected were set out in the body of the report.

Reason for Decision

Based on the current core elements of the existing scheme, a caseload reduction of 1% had been modelled, along with an increase in Council Tax, ranging from 2% to 4%. These were summarised in Appendix 1 of the report, giving an indication of the potential cost and savings to the Council. Also included was the potential value for non-collection, based on projected collection in the taxbase of 98.75%.

As a billing authority the Council could decide whether or not to amend core elements of its scheme each year. Officers were not proposing any changes to the core elements of the scheme for 2020/21. It was noted, however, that there would be some technical changes that would still need to be applied to ensure that the Council’s scheme complied with the Prescribed Scheme Regulations, which covered Universal Credit, premiums and discounts. These details were still awaited from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Alongside a proposed ‘no change’ scheme, it was also suggested that continuation of £20,000 for an Exceptional Hardship Scheme continued.

Further proposed changes to Council Tax in respect of care leavers Council Tax exemption and Council Tax empty homes premium were set out in paragraphs 5.1 and 5.2 of the report respectively.