To consider the Council Tax Support Scheme for 2020/2021 as set out in the submitted report.

The Council considered the submitted report on a review of the current local Council Tax Support Scheme for 2020/21 and the recommendations of the Cabinet.  Members noted that the Local Government Finance Act 2012 required local authorities to review their local schemes annually.  The Council had a statutory duty to provide a local Council Tax Support Scheme for working-age households.  In addition, pension age households were subject to statutory provisions determined nationally, which had to be incorporated within the Council’s scheme.

Councillor Carter proposed and Councillor Cowell seconded a motion, which was agreed (unanimously) by the Council as set out below:

(i)         that Personal Allowances and Premiums, used to calculate Council Tax Support, are uprated from 1 April 2020 in line with the prescribed Pensioner scheme and national working-age benefits, which are both set by the Government;  and

(ii)        that the Chief Finance Officer be given delegated authority, in consultation with the Cabinet and the Executive Lead for Customer Services, to make any further adjustments required to the Exceptional Hardship Policy and fund.

To consider and recommend to Council the Council Tax Support Scheme for 2020/2021.