To consider the report on proposed changes to the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme, forwarded for consideration of Council by the Mayor in Cabinet on Wednesday 9 January 2019.

The Council considered a report on proposed changes to the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme, forwarded for consideration of Council by the Mayor in Cabinet on Wednesday 9 January 2019.

DECISION:

That the Council agree:

1.    To limit the maximum disabled non dependant deduction to £4 per week.

2.    To adjust the minimum level of income for self-employed under 25’s to reflect age rules.

3.    To enhance the support available to increase earnings and income for self-employed claimants.

4.    To increase backdating provision for the scheme from 4 weeks to 52 weeks.

5.    To note the equalities impact assessment arising from the recommended changes to the scheme as set out in section 4 of this report.

(Action by: Neville Murton, Acting Corporate Director Resources).

The Council considered a report on proposed changes to the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme, forwarded for consideration of Council by the Mayor in Cabinet on Wednesday 9 January 2019.

RESOLVED:

That the Council agree:

1.    To limit the maximum disabled non dependant deduction to £4 per week.

2.    To adjust the minimum level of income for self-employed under 25’s to reflect age rules.

3.    To enhance the support available to increase earnings and income for self-employed claimants.

4.    To increase backdating provision for the scheme from 4 weeks to 52 weeks.

5.    To note the equalities impact assessment arising from the recommended changes to the scheme as set out in section 4 of this report.

The recommendations were amended and then agreed.

DECISION

1.    To note the feedback from the consultation on the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme.

2.    To note the options to revise the current scheme.

3.    To agree the amended Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme be recommended to Council for consideration subject to the following change:

a.    That Recommendation 5 set out in the proposed report to Council is not taken forward. (5. To agree to use the same child allowances in the local Council Tax Reduction scheme assessments as those used in Child Tax Credit, Housing Benefit and the Local Council Tax Reduction assessments for pensioners and to apply this in respect of third or successive children born after April 2019).

Action by:

ACTING CORPORATE DIRECTOR, RESOURCES (N. MURTON)

(Head of Benefit Services (S. Hill)

(Benefits Policy and Procedures Manager (L. Fearon)

This item was taken alongside Agenda Item 6.4 (Report of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee: Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme scrutiny challenge report) and the combined minute is presented under that item. The resolution for this item is presented below.

RESOLVED

1.    To note the feedback from the consultation on the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme.

2.    To note the options to revise the current scheme.

3.    To agree the amended Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme be recommended to Council for consideration subject to the following change:

a.    That Recommendation 5 set out in the proposed report to Council is not taken forward. (5. To agree to use the same child allowances in the local Council Tax Reduction scheme assessments as those used in Child Tax Credit, Housing Benefit and the Local Council Tax Reduction assessments for pensioners and to apply this in respect of third or successive children born after April 2019).