Issue - meetings

Resolved to Recommend:

1.            not to revise or replace the current Council Tax Support scheme for 2017/18.

2.            the approval of the proposed minor technical changes to the 2017/18 Council Tax Support scheme as laid out in paragraphs 22 and 23 of the report.

Decision

Resolved to Recommend:

1. not to revise or replace the current Council Tax Support scheme for 2017/18.
2. Approval of the proposed minor technical changes to the 2017/18 Council Tax Support scheme as laid out in paragraphs 22 and 23 of the report.

Reason for Decision

To consider whether to revise or replace the existing Council Tax Support scheme for the 2017/18 billing year, and if so, to approve options for consultation.

To note the requirement to consider revision or replacement of the Council Tax Support scheme for 2017/18. To consider the recommendation to uprate the calculation amounts for working age people within the scheme and to adjust the scheme to introduce a rule to automatically do this in future years. To consider the recommendation to make an adjustment to the rule defining disability for the purpose of classing a taxpayer as vulnerable within the scheme.

Implications

Financial

There are no direct financial implications arising if Cabinet agree with the recommendations made by this report, as the assumptions in the MTFS about council tax income are based on the continuation of the current scheme. The potential impacts of other choices are explained in the body of this report.

Community Impact Assessment

An Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) was undertaken on the 2013 Council Tax Support scheme. There have been no changes since that date which have required an update to that assessment. If revision or replacement of the scheme is being considered, then an updated Community Impact Assessment will be developed in order to form part of the consultation process.

Health & Safety Implications

There are no health and safety implications arising from this report.

Corporate Objectives

Effective management of the Council’s finances supports the Council’s vision and all five of its corporate objectives.

Monitoring Officer/S.151 Officer Comments

Monitoring Officer:  

Schedule 1A of the Local Governance Finance Act 1992 (as amended) requires that a billing authority (this Council) considers each financial year whether to whether to revise or replace its Council Tax Support Scheme.

This report satisfies that requirement and recommends no revision or replacement to the current scheme other than the minor technical changes noted. If Cabinet or Council does require revision or replacement of the scheme following consideration of this report further consultation will be required.  

S.151 Officer

This is a S151 Officer report.

Advice

The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Resources said that the Council was required, under law, to review or replace the Council Tax Support Scheme. The Portfolio Holder said that there were a couple of minor technical changes to support residents.

The Group Manager for Revenues, Benefits and Fraud said that were a few minor amendments due to catching up with new welfare legislation.

Voting

None.