Issue - meetings

Members will be asked to consider the proposed changes to the Council Tax Reduction (CTR) Scheme and to approve the proposed Council Tax Reduction Scheme for the 2024/25 financial year.

The report was previously considered by the Cabinet on 13 February 2024.

Background:

This report proposed changes to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2024/25 which reflected income bands being uprated for Consumer Price Inflation, as set out at Appendix 1 to the report. It also referred to the permanent discretionary policy for care leavers which sat outside of the Council tax Reduction scheme and formed a significant part of the Council’s Local Offer to care leavers.

A Diversity Impact Assessment (DIA) had been completed for the proposed Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2024/25 and was attached at Appendix 2 to the report.

The report had been considered by the Cabinet on 13 February 2024, details of which were set out in section 6 of the report.

The Portfolio Holder for Business Management, Councillor Van Dyke, supported by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Maple, proposed the recommendations set out in the report.

Decisions:

a)    The Council noted the decisions of the Cabinet, as set out at section 6 of the report.

b)    The Council agreed to adopt the Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS) 2024/25, reflecting income bands uprated for Consumer Price Inflation, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

c)    The Council noted the impact of the Care Leavers Discretionary Council Tax Policy agreed in February 2023, as detailed within paragraph 3.4 of the report.

Background:

This report proposed changes to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2024/25 which reflected income bands being uprated for Consumer Price Inflation, as set out at Appendix 1 to the report. It was noted that the Council’s financial situation did not enable the scheme to be made more generous.

The report also referred to the permanent discretionary policy for care leavers which sat outside of the Council tax Reduction scheme and formed a significant part of the Council’s Local Offer to care leavers.

A Diversity Impact Assessment (DIA) had been completed for the proposed Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2024/25 and was attached at Appendix 2 to the report.

Reasons:

The CTR Scheme continues to balance the need for supporting those currently in receipt of council tax reductions and the ability of the Council to fund the scheme within the current budgetary constraints.