Issue - meetings

Report number:     CAB/WS/22/069

Portfolio holder: Councillor Sarah Broughton

Lead officers: Rachael Mann and Adrian Mills

Recommended to Council:

(13 December 2022)

That:

1.           The Local Council Tax Reduction (LCTRS) Scheme for 2023 to 2024 as outlined in Report number CAB/WS/22/069, be reviewed.

2.           The changes to the Scheme outlined in section 2 of Report number CAB/WS/22/069 and that the maximum discount change only relates to 2023 to 2024, be agreed.

(Report number CAB/WS/22/069)

The Cabinet considered this report, which was recommending to Council, approval of proposed changes to the West Suffolk Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme.

Each year the Council was required to review its Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme (LCTRS).  This report provided an annual review of the 2022 to 2023 scheme and proposed to make changes to the scheme for 2023 to 2024.

Councillor Sarah Broughton, Portfolio Holder for Resources and Property, drew relevant issues to the attention of Cabinet, including that the proposed change to the Scheme, effective from 1 April 2023 (and to last for one year only) was that the maximum reduction on Council Tax paid should be increased from 91.5 percent to 100 per cent.  This would be a means tested scheme and would reduce the amount that many Council Tax payers had to pay and could result in some working-age residents paying zero Council Tax.

A consultation had been held from 18 October to 18 November 2022.  Major preceptors and stakeholders had responded and the responses received and the key points raised were covered in Section 4.1 of Report number CAB/WS/22/069.  It was noted that 70 per cent of the respondents agreed/strongly agreed with the proposal to increase the maximum discount on Council Tax.

Councillor Sarah Broughton further explained that this was an opportunity that had the support of stakeholders and the public to assist with the easing of the financial burden that many were facing and she expressed her support for this proposal.

Recommended to Council (13 December 2022):

That:

1.           The Local Council Tax Reduction (LCTRS) Scheme for 2023 to 2024 as outlined in Report number CAB/WS/22/069, be reviewed.

2.           The changes to the Scheme outlined in section 2 of Report number CAB/WS/22/069 and that the maximum discount change only relates to 2023 to 2024, be agreed.