Issue - meetings

This report reviews the Council’s Localised Council Tax Support Scheme in advance of the 2023/24 financial year, as well as proposals made in relation to the discount for care leavers, discount for Special Constables and Discretionary Hardship Fund.

Purpose of report

This report reviewed the Council’s Localised Council Tax Support Scheme in advance of the 2023/24 financial year, as well as proposals made in relation to the discount for care leavers, discount for Special Constables and the Discretionary Hardship Fund.

Decision

That Cabinet:

1.    recommended to Council the Local Council Tax Support Scheme for 2023/24 which was based on the same overarching criteria as the current year scheme as detailed in paragraphs 2.14 to 2.22 of the report.

2.    Included the continuation of the £20,000 Discretionary Payment fund for 2023/24 in their budget proposals.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Options considered were set out in the report and supporting appendices. The current scheme information was detailed in paragraphs 2.14 to 2.22 of this report.  

Reason for decisions

Each year the Council were required to review their Council Tax Support Scheme to determine its sustainability and to consider any changes for the following financial year.

The original scheme came into effect on 1 April 2013 and provided for 80% entitlement to working age claimants.

Due to the protection provided to pensioners and vulnerable working age claimants there would also be an element of cost that the Council had to incur over which it had no influence. Any savings to be made to the proposed scheme could only be applied to the working age claimants, which were 20.79% of the caseload. Out of the current Council spend of £635,000, £135,000 could be influenced by a change to the current Scheme.

The Scheme was determined locally by the Council having undertaken consultation with precepting authorities, key stakeholders and residents. Consultation on a ‘no change’ scheme took place during October 2022; this was supported by 84% of respondents.

The Scheme had also been considered, and recommended to Cabinet by the Finance, Economic Development and Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee (FEDCO) at their meeting held on 22 November 2022.

Members of Cabinet, in supporting the Scheme highlighted as positives the Council Tax exemptions for care leavers and Special Constables.