Issue - meetings

This report seeks the adoption of a revised local Council Tax Reduction Scheme.

Discussion:

This report provided details of proposed revisions to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme, following consultation and consideration by the Cabinet on 19 December 2017. Details of the proposals were set out in paragraph 2.7 whilst the outcome of consultation was set out in section 3 and Appendix 4 to the report.

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been carried out on the proposals, as set out in Appendix 5 to the report.

The Portfolio Holder for Business Management, Councillor Turpin, supported by the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Housing and Community Services, Councillor Doe, proposed the recommendation in the report.

Members placed on record their thanks to Jon Poulson, Revenues and Benefits Manager, who was retiring at the end of the month after 38 years’ service with Medway Council and its predecessor authorities.

Decision:

The Council approved the revised Council Tax Reduction Scheme, as set out in appendix 6 to the report.

Background:

This report provided details of the outcome of the consultation on the proposed changes to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS), as agreed by the Cabinet on 11 July 2017.

The proposals consulted on were:

·         making amendments to mirror changes to the national housing benefit regulations and prescribed requirements for pension age CTRS claim;

·         making amendments in preparation for the full roll out of Universal Credit;

·         making amendments for other welfare reforms; and

·         introduction of a de-minimus limit.

The report stated that the consultation took place from 11 August 2017 to 6 November 2017. Letters were sent to 20,821 households (all 18,121 CTRS recipients and a random sample of 2,700 non recipients) inviting them to participate in the consultation. The Council received 485 survey questionnaires in response, details of which were set out in paragraphs 3.1.5 and 3.1.6 of the report.

The report concluded that the CTRS should be amended to reflect all those changes consulted upon and summarised in paragraphs 3.1.5 and 3.1.6 of the report, as the need to align all schemes outweighed the arguments for not doing so. The recommendation was also made in the knowledge that the Discretionary Council Tax Relief scheme existed to protect any individuals for whom payment of council tax was causing hardship.

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been undertaken on the proposals as detailed in paragraph 3.6 of the report and Appendix B to the report.

Reasons:

The amended scheme continues to balance the need for supporting those currently in receipt of CTRS and the ability of the Council to fund the scheme within the current budgetary constraints.

The changes will align the working-age scheme with the pensioner scheme and other welfare benefits.

The Council’s Council Tax Discretionary Relief scheme provides additional support in the case of hardship.