Issue - meetings

This report requests that the Council adopts the Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2022/23, based on the twelve proposed changes to the existing scheme.

Background:

This report provided details of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS) 2022 to 2023 and asked the Council to adopt the revised scheme.

The report stated that the cost of the CTRS in 2022/23 based upon the current caseload was estimated to be £12.555m and that there were 12 proposed changes to the scheme. The report also set out the results of the public consultation that had been undertaken in relation to the proposed changes. The majority of respondents had been in favour of each of the proposed changes.

The report had been considered by the Business Support Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 25 January 2022 and by the Cabinet on 8 February 2022, details of which were set out in sections 4 and 5 of the report respectively.

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been undertaken on the proposals, as set out in Appendix 2 to the report.

The Council Tax Reduction Scheme, as set out in Appendix 4 to the report, was included in Supplementary Agenda No.1.

The Portfolio Holder for Business Management, Councillor Hackwell, supported by the Portfolio Holder for Resources, Councillor Gulvin, proposed the recommendations set out in the report.

Decision:

a)    The Council noted the comments of the Business Support Overview and Scrutiny Committee, as set out in section 4 of the report and the decisions of the Cabinet, as set out at section 5 of the report.

b)    The Council agreed to adopt the Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2022/23, as set out in Appendix 5 to the report, based on the twelve proposed changes to the existing scheme.

c)    The Council agreed the cessation of the risk-based verification policy, as set out in paragraph 3.1.8 to the report.

Background:

This report provided details of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS) 2022/2023 for Cabinet’s consideration ahead of final consideration and approval by Full Council on 24 February 2022.

At its meeting on 3 August 2021, the Cabinet had agreed for the Council to proceed with public consultation, with a view to changing the CTRS from April 2022 (decision number 92/2021) and the results of the consultation were set out at Appendix 4. The proposed scheme, Appendix 5, was included in a supplementary agenda.

The Business Support Overview and Scrutiny Committee had considered the report and its comments were set out in section 3 of the report.

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been undertaken on the proposals, as set out in Appendix 2 to the report.

Reasons:

The 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 majority of respondents to the consultation were in agreement with the proposed changes to the scheme.

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