Issue - meetings

Report No:   CAB/SE/15/074

Cabinet Member: Ian Houlder          Lead Officer: Paul Corney

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL (15 December 2015):

That no change be made to the current Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme or Council Tax Technical changes levels for 2016/2017, as detailed in Sections 5 and 6 of Report No: CAB/SE/15/074.

The Cabinet considered Report No: CAB/SE/15/074, which sought approval for the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme and Technical Changes 2016/2017.

Councillor Ian Houlder, Portfolio Holder for Resources and Performance, drew relevant issues to the attention of the Cabinet, including background to the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme (LCTRS) which was introduced from 1 April 2013, together with a summary of the second year review (2014/2015) in respect of the behavioural, administrative and financial impacts of the LCTRS and council tax technical changes levels.

The recommended continuation of the current schemes covered in the report, was intended to continue to deliver a ‘cost neutral scheme’ against the original 10% Government grant reduction. This was in order to maintain collection rates and avoid additional administrative costs. The impact of the 2016/2017 24% reduction in Central Government grant was therefore required to be addressed elsewhere and would form part of the Council’s wider Medium Term Financial Strategy review and 2016/2017 budget setting process.

Based on the overall findings of the second year review outlined in Sections 2 and 3 of the report, the Cabinet supported the recommendation to continue the LCTRS in its current form.  In respect of the technical changes, based on the overall findings of the second year review outlined in Sections 2 and 3 of the report, the Cabinet also supported the recommendation to continue with the 2015/2016 levels, as shown below in Table 2 of Section 6 of the report.

Discussion was held on the relatively low demand for Exceptional Hardship payments; and the timings of the collection of payments.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:

That no change be made to the current Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme or Council Tax Technical changes levels for 2016/2017, as detailed in Sections 5 and 6 of Report No: CAB/SE/15/074.