Decision Maker:

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: December 12, 2024

Purpose:

Content: Council: ·      Considered the consultation documentation, outcome analysis from the consultation on the council’s preferred scheme, GLA Consultation response and Case study models of impact of recommended scheme at Appendices 1, 2, 3 and 6 of the report. ·      Agreed that the proposed income banded Council Tax Support Scheme consulted upon be adopted whereby: o   working-age residents are entitled to support of up to a maximum of 85%, depending on a person’s level of income, household composition and level of capital where they fall within one of the protected groups who are households with limited capability to work and households with children aged 5 and under; o   other eligible working-age residents are entitled to support up to a maximum of 57%, depending on their level of income, household composition and level of capital; o   the reductions made to support for non-dependants will be a reduction of £20 per week for working non-dependants and £8 per week for non-dependants who are out of work. ·      Agreed that the Council continue to make £750,000 available for a Discretionary Hardship Fund under section 13A(1)(c) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as amended by the Local Government Finance Act 2012, to offer additional help and support to those suffering the greatest financial hardship as defined in the Discretionary Housing Payment and Council Tax Hardship Scheme published on the Council’s website. This includes supporting care leavers. The current scheme is attached at (Appendix 4). ·      Agreed there be delegated authority to correct any accidental errors and make any minor or consequential changes necessary to the detailed provision as a result of any changes in the regulations upon which the scheme is based, to the Strategic Director of Resources following consultation with the Portfolio Lead Member for Finance and Resources. ·      Noted that the income banded scheme treats earnings and selfemployed earnings as the only income used to determine a household’s level of income against the proposed income bands. All other income would be disregarded. The scheme will continue to fully disregard War Widows & War Widowers pensions for all applicants. Various other incomes, for example, Child Benefit, Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Payments will also continue to be ignored when calculating entitlement to Council Tax Support. ·      Noted that the remaining provisions of the Council’s scheme for 2025/26 will be as published on the Council’s website. ·      Noted that the projected cost of the whole scheme is identified as £18.31 million which is £2.3 million less than if the current scheme is continued. This will be reflected in the calculation of the council tax base for 2025/26 and included within the next MTFS as part of the budget setting process. ·      Noted that before any significant changes to the proposed scheme reducing or removing support could be made that a further statutory consultation would need to be carried out. ·      Agreed that the Council conducts a more detailed analysis of households' ability to meet these liabilities based on the administrative data the Council has access to using platforms and methodologies for reliable analysis. This recommendation is welcome and reflects existing practice, and whether the proposed changes are accepted or not the authority will use its tools such as Pathways, Destin Solutions, and LIFT to identify the ability of households to meet liabilities and address this through the existing hardship fund and income maximisation.