Decision Maker: Cabinet, Council

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: October 16, 2025

Purpose: To consider and recommend to Full Council the council tax support scheme for 2026

Content: The purpose of the report was to ask Cabinet to consider and recommend to Full Council the revised Council Tax Support Scheme for the financial year 2026/2027.   Councillor Patrick Coleman, Cabinet Member for Finance, introduced the report. Councillor Coleman suggested that the recommendation for delegation be a separate point, the original two recommendations were split into three, no further amendments made. The resulting three recommendations were proposed by Councillor Patrick Coleman and seconded by Councillor Mike Evemy.    RESOLVED that Cabinet recommend to Council to   1.    Agree the increase to income bands as detailed within paragraphs 3.2, 3.3 and Annex A of this report from 1 April 2026. 2.    Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive and Section 151 Officer, in Consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, to amend the income bands by the September 2025 CPI rate due to be published on 22 October 2025, should this be different to the assumed increase set out in the report and annex A. 3.    Agree that any balance remaining in the earmarked reserve ‘Hardship Fund’ be made available in 2026/27 financial year for reasons detailed in paragraphs 3.6 and 3.7 of the report.   Voting Record: 7 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstentions