To consider the submitted report on a review of the Council Tax Support Scheme for 2017/2018.

The Council considered the submitted report on a review of the current Council Tax Support Scheme for 2016/17.  The Scheme provided a discount to help low income households with the cost of Council Tax payments.  Members noted that for each financial year the Council must consider whether to revise or replace its current scheme by 31 January and continued reductions in Government grants had led to a number of proposed changes to the Scheme to make it more affordable.

Councillor King proposed and Councillor Tyerman seconded the motion and during the debate Councillor Stockman proposed and Councillor Tyerman seconded an amendment (the addition of paragraph (vi) below).  Councillor King and Councillor Tyerman accepted the amendment, which was then incorporated in the original motion and was agreed by the Council as set out below:

(i)         that, having considered the outcomes of the full consultation results and having due regard to the matters under the Public Sector Equality Duty (as set out in the Equality Impact Assessment) and the potential impacts on people with disabilities, carers, women and working age groups the proposed changes to the reviewed Council Tax Support Scheme as set out in section 11 to Appendix 1 to the submitted report be approved;

(ii)        that Personal Allowances and Premiums for Council Tax Support are uprated from 1 April 2017 in line with the prescribed pensioner scheme and national working-age benefits, which are both set by the Government;

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

(iv)      that it be noted that the discretionary Awards (Exceptional Hardship) policy and fund will be reviewed during the new financial year, 2017/18;

(v)       that the Head of Finance, in consultation with the Executive Lead Member for Customer Services, be authorised to make final detailed changes to the Council Tax Support Scheme and to implement the scheme from April 2017;  and

(vi)      that the Council request the Head of Finance to review the exceptional hardship policy so as to consider an extension of the scheme to those impacted by the minimum set income for self employed earners.

(Note:  Mayor Oliver joined the meeting during this item.)

The Executive Head – Customer Services to present his report to the Council on the proposed changes to the Council Tax Support Scheme.

The Mayor and Councillor King to answer the Board’s questions.

The Board to make any comments or recommendations to the Council on the proposed changes to the Scheme.

The Board considered the report which was due to be presented to the Council on proposed revisions to the Council Tax Support Scheme.  The proposed Scheme had been subject to consultation for 12 weeks until 31 October 2016.  During that time a task-and-finish group of non-executive members had met to discuss the proposals and their expected impact with the Executive Lead and officers.

Resolved:  (i)  that the Board thank the Mayor and Executive for taking account of the consultation results, the Equality Impact Assessment and the views expressed by the task-and-finish group; and

(ii)        that the proposed changes now described in the report to the Council provide a reasonable compromise of balancing the economics of the Scheme and the needs of the population.