To consider the submitted report on the Council Tax Support Scheme for 2016/17.

The Council considered the submitted report on a review of the current Council Tax Support Scheme for 2016/17.  Members noted that for each financial year the Council must consider whether to revise or replace its current scheme by 31 January.

It was proposed by Mayor Oliver and seconded by Councillor Mills:

(i)         that the current Council Tax Support scheme be continued without change from 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2017;

(ii)        that Personal Allowances and Premiums for Council Tax Support are uprated from 1 April 2016 in line with the prescribed pensioner scheme and national working-age benefits, which are both set by the Government;

(iii)       that the Exceptional Hardship Fund of £80,000, which is used to top up Council Tax Support awards in appropriate cases, be continued;

(iv)       that the Chief Accountant be given delegated authority, in consultation with the Mayor and Executive Lead for Finance and Regeneration, to make any further adjustments required to the Exceptional Hardship Policy and Fund and the Vulnerable policy; and

(v)        that a full review of the current scheme will take place during 2016/17 to consider whether any revisions are necessary from 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2018 that will also take into account the welfare changes announced in the 2015 Summer Budget.

On being put to the vote, the motion was declared carried.