To consider the recommendations of the Cabinet and a report that provides an overview of the current Council Tax Support scheme and the proposed changes for the financial year 2025/26.

The Council considered the recommendations of the Cabinet and the submitted report on a review of the current local Council Tax Support Scheme and recommendations for a replacement Scheme to be introduced for 2025/26, and in accordance with statutory requirements.  Members noted that the Council Tax Support Scheme provided financial support to households that were on a low income or were unemployed, to assist them in paying their Council Tax. 

Councillor Tyerman proposed and Councillor David Thomas seconded a motion as set out below:

that the Council be recommended to amend the Council Tax Support Scheme for 2025/26 as follows:

1.    the self-employed minimum income floor calculation for households that are not receiving Universal Credit and have a disability, or caring responsibility is removed and is based on the actual income received;

2.    discounting any compensation payments made by the Post Office in connection with the failings of the Horizon system;

3.    discounting any additional settlement payments resulting from the ongoing Grenfell Tower related civil litigation;

4.    discounting any payments for the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme;

5.    discounting payments for Victims of Terrorist Attacks Abroad; and

6.    all income bands will be increased by the September 2024 Consumer Price Index rate at 1.7%, and the Director of Finance be given delegated authority to make amendments to the table in paragraph 6.2 of the submitted report to reflect that change.

During the debate Councillor Long proposed and Councillor Cowell seconded an amendment to the motion as follows:

1.         that the Council be recommended to amend the Council Tax Support Scheme for 2025/26 as follows:

1.    the self-employed minimum income floor calculation for households that are not receiving Universal Credit and have a disability, or caring responsibility is removed and is based on the actual income received;

2.    discounting any compensation payments made by the Post Office in connection with the failings of the Horizon system;

3.    discounting any additional settlement payments resulting from the ongoing Grenfell Tower related civil litigation;

4.    discounting any payments for the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme;

5.    discounting payments for Victims of Terrorist Attacks Abroad; and

6.    all income bands will be increased by the September 2024 Consumer Price Index rate at 1.7%, and the Director of Finance be given delegated authority to make amendments to the table in paragraph 6.2 of the submitted report to reflect that change;  and

2.         that for future reviews of the Council Tax Support Scheme, the Director of Finance be instructed to incorporate the option for increasing the discount that residents receive on Council Tax and the Cabinet take this into consideration when setting the 2026/27 scheme, including any related impact on future budget proposals.

The amendment was put to the vote and declared lost.

Councillor Tyerman’s and Councillor David Thomas’ original motion was then considered by the Council which was agreed, as set out below:

that the Council be recommended to amend the Council Tax Support Scheme for 2025/26 as follows:

1.    the self-employed minimum income floor calculation for households that are not receiving Universal Credit and have a disability, or caring responsibility is removed and is based on the actual income received;

2.    discounting any compensation payments made by the Post Office in connection with the failings of the Horizon system;

3.    discounting any additional settlement payments resulting from the ongoing Grenfell Tower related civil litigation;

4.    discounting any payments for the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme;

5.    discounting payments for Victims of Terrorist Attacks Abroad; and

6.    all income bands will be increased by the September 2024 Consumer Price Index rate at 1.7%, and the Director of Finance be given delegated authority to make amendments to the table in paragraph 6.2 of the submitted report to reflect that change.

(Note: Councillors Atiya-Alla and Nicolaou did not take part in the debate or vote on the matter due to Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applying to them.)