Issue - meetings

The Council is asked to consider the proposed changes to the Council Tax Reduction scheme and agree the Council Tax Reduction scheme for the 2026/27 financial year.

Background:

This report set out the proposed changes to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS), which reflected income bands being uprated for Consumer Price Inflation, as set out at Appendix 1 to the report. The Council was asked to approve the changes for the 2026/27 financial year.

The report was previously considered by the Cabinet on 10 February 2026, the decisions of which were set out at section 6 of the report.

Alongside the Council Tax Reduction scheme, Cabinet agreed to implement a permanent discretionary policy for care leavers which sat outside the Council Tax Reduction scheme. The policy formed a significant part of the Council’s Local Offer to care leavers and provided vital support.

A Diversity Impact Assessment (DIA) had been completed for the proposed Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2026/27 and was attached at Appendix 2 to the report.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Maple, supported by the Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services, Councillor Price, 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 that the Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2026/27 be adopted, reflecting income bands uprated for the Consumer Price Index, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

c)    The Council noted the revised Exceptional Hardship Payment policy, which was a prescribed requirement within the Council Tax Reduction Scheme, as set out at Appendix 2 to the report and noted the impact of the Care Leavers Discretionary Council Tax Policy agreed in February 2023.

Background:

The report set out the proposed changes to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS) and sought the Cabinet’s agreement to recommend to Council, a Council Tax Reduction scheme for the 2026/27 financial year.

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been undertaken and was attached at Appendix 3 to the report.

Reasons:

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