Issue - meetings

Cabinet, at its meeting on 3 February 2020, considered a report on the adoption and implementation of a modified council tax reduction scheme for the financial years 2020/21 onwards.  

The report of the interim head of finance, which Cabinet considered on 3 February 2020, is attached.

RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL: to adopt, for 2020/21 onwards, the 2014/15 adopted council tax reduction scheme with the following amendments:

(i)        to remove the 91.5 per cent limit when calculating their council tax bill, and remove the band E restriction for single parents with children under age five, so that qualifying residents will have their council tax reduction calculated at 100 per cent of their council tax bill after any deductions and based on their property’s actual council tax band, as set out in the interim head of finance’s report to Cabinet on 3 February 2020;

(ii)       to widen the definition of who is considered disabled, in order to be exempt from paying council tax (e.g. council tax reduction will be calculated on 100 per cent of their council tax bill and their actual council tax band), as set out in the report; and

(iii)      to disregard Bereavement Support Payments as income when calculating an applicant’s council tax reduction, as set out in the report. 

Council considered Cabinet’s recommendations, made at its meeting on 3 February 2020, on the adoption and implementation of a modified council tax reduction scheme for the financial years 2020/21 onwards.

RESOLVED: to adopt, for 2020/21 onwards, the 2014/15 adopted council tax reduction scheme with the following amendments:

1. to remove the 91.5 per cent limit when calculating their council tax bill, and remove the band E restriction for single parents with children under age five,

qualifying residents will have their council tax reduction calculated at 100 per cent of their council tax bill after any deductions and based on their property’s actual council tax band, as set out in the interim head of finance’s report to Cabinet on 3 February 2020;

2. to widen the definition of who is considered disabled, in order to be exempt from paying council tax (e.g. council tax reduction will be calculated on 100 per cent of their council tax bill and their actual council tax band), as set out in the report; and

3.to disregard Bereavement Support Payments as income when calculating an applicant’s council tax reduction, as set out in the report. 

To consider the head of finance’s report. 

Cabinet considered the interim head of finance’s report on proposed amendments to the council tax reduction scheme for 2020/21. 

The Cabinet member for finance reported that the proposal included modest changes to the scheme, which had been supported by the Scrutiny Committee.  The changes included:

·         helping single parents with children under age five

·         widening the definition of who was considered disabled

·         disregarding Bereavement Support Payments as income when calculating an applicant’s council tax reduction

Cabinet supported the proposal, noting that the cost to the council was less than £4,000. 

RECOMMENDED to Council to adopt, for 2020/21 onwards, the 2014/15 adopted council tax reduction scheme with the following amendments:

(i)        to remove the 91.5 per cent limit when calculating their council tax bill, and remove the band E restriction for single parents with children under age five, so that qualifying residents will have their council tax reduction calculated at 100 per cent of their council tax bill after any deductions and based on their property’s actual council tax band, as set out in the interim head of finance’s report to Cabinet on 3 February 2020;

(ii)       to widen the definition of who is considered disabled, in order to be exempt from paying council tax (e.g. council tax reduction will be calculated on 100 per cent of their council tax bill and their actual council tax band), as set out in the report; and

(iii)      to disregard Bereavement Support Payments as income when calculating an applicant’s council tax reduction, as set out in the report.