Issue - meetings

Report number:     CAB/WS/23/057

Portfolio holder: Councillor Diane Hind

Lead officer: Rachael Mann

(See separate supplement pack for Appendix C – available to view electronically on the Council’s website here.)

Recommended to Council:

(19 December 2023)

That:

1.       The Local Council Tax Reduction (LCTRS) Scheme for 2023 to 2024 as outlined in Report number: CAB/WS/23/057, be reviewed.

2.       It be recommended to Council to make the changes to the Scheme outlined in section 2 of Report number: CAB/WS/23/057 and that the maximum discount change only relates to 2024 to 2025, in line with the recent consultation.

The Cabinet considered this report, which was recommending to Council, the approval of the West Suffolk Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2024 to 2025.

Each year the Council was required to review its Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme (LCTRS). The report provided an annual review of the 2023 to 2024 scheme and proposed to make changes to the scheme for 2024 to 2025.

Councillor Diane Hind, Portfolio Holder for Resources, drew relevant issues to the attention of Cabinet, including that it was being proposed to extend the maximum reduction on council tax paid of 100 percent for a further 12 months. This would take effect from 1 April 2024 (and last for one year only). This would be a means tested scheme and was designed to support low-income working age residents, in light of the current pressures on the cost of living. This proposal is set out further in paragraph 2.2 of the report.

A consultation on the proposals was held from 2 October to 30 October 2023. Major preceptors and stakeholders had responded and the responses received and the key points raised were covered in section 4 of the report. It was noted that 90.2 percent of the respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the proposal to extend the maximum discount on council tax.

The Cabinet supported the recommendations and duly recommended their acceptance to Council accordingly.

Recommended to Council: (19 December 2023)

That:

1.       The Local Council Tax Reduction (LCTRS) Scheme for 2023 to 2024 as outlined in Report number: CAB/WS/23/057, be reviewed.

2.       The changes to the Scheme outlined in section 2 of Report number: CAB/WS/23/057 and that the maximum discount change only relates to 2024 to 2025, in line with the recent consultation, be agreed.