Agenda item

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.

The Deputy Leader of the Council introduced a report reviewing the Council’s Localised Council Tax Support Scheme (the Scheme) in advance of the 2023/2024 financial year, as well as proposals made in relation to the discount for care leavers, discount for special constables and the Discretionary Hardship Fund.

Each year the Council was required to review the Scheme; it came into effect in 2013 and provided 80% entitlement for working age claimants.

Despite the Scheme being ‘local’ due to the nature of protection provided to pensioners and vulnerable working age customers, there would always be an element of cost that the Council had to incur and for which it had no influence over.

The Scheme was determined locally by the Council after consultation with the public, key stakeholders and precepting authorities. 20, or 84.07% of respondents supported the current Scheme, which included the continuation of the Council Tax exemption for care leavers, the Council Tax discount for Special Constables and the Discretionary Payment Fund. Lincolnshire County Council and The Police and Crime Commissioner were also in support of the Scheme.

Cabinet considered the Scheme and recommended it to Council at their meeting held on 13 December 2022.

The following points were raised during debate:

·         There were currently 94 special constables in Lincolnshire, and only three of these special constables, based in South Kesteven had claimed the discount.

·         Whilst the discount for special constables was welcomed, one member made the point that this could be extended to trainee nurses and teachers.

·         Reassurance was requested that the relevant signposting was in place for the Discretionary Payment Fund.

·         The Council Tax exemption for care leavers was originally recommended by the Corporate Parenting Panel at Lincolnshire County Council. Both the Council and South Holland District Council paid the exemption for care leavers up to the age of 25, whereas other authorities in Lincolnshire paid it up to the age of 21.

·         The Council Tax break for special constables was achieved several years ago. It was a difficult decision to know where to draw the line with concessions, however special constables protected everyone and, in some areas, doubled the uniformed presence.

·         The Council Tax discount for special constables was demand led and the money would be there for support if anyone came forward to claim it. Last year three individuals came forward to claim this; the amount payable was less than £1,000.

An amendment was proposed and seconded to amend the wording of the motion to read:

“That Council approves the Local Council Tax Support Scheme 2023/2024 based on the same overarching criteria as the current year’s scheme, and the Council would seek to expand the Special Constabulary Discount Scheme from 2024/2025 onwards to include any Volunteer police community support officers (VPCSOs) verified by Lincolnshire Police as being regular volunteers completing at least 260 hours service per year.”

The proposer and seconder of the substantive motion were happy to accept this, provided the following wording was added in to the motion:

‘the views of the Police and Crime Commissioner to potentially….’

This was acceptable to all parties involved in the amendment, so therefore these amendments formed part of the substantive motion and it read:

“That Council approves the Local Council Tax Support Scheme 2023/2024 based on the same overarching criteria as the current year’s scheme, and the Council would seek the views of the Police and Crime Commissioner to potentially expand the Special Constabulary Discount Scheme from 2024/2025 onwards to include any Volunteer police community support officers (VPCSOs) verified by Lincolnshire Police as being regular volunteers completing at least 260 hours service per year.”

Having been proposed and seconded, upon being put to the vote the motion was AGREED:

DECISION:

That the Council:

1.    Approves the Local Council Tax Support Scheme 2023/2024 based on the same overarching criteria as the current year’s scheme, and the Council would seek the views of the Police and Crime Commissioner to potentially expand the Special Constabulary Discount Scheme from 2024/2025 onwards to include any Volunteer police community support officers (VPCSOs) verified by Lincolnshire Police as being regular volunteers completing at least 260 hours service per year.