Issue - meetings

This report seeks Council approval of a council tax support scheme, following recommendation of the scheme by Cabinet on 18 December 2012.

Please note that Appendix A has been circulated to Members on Supplementary Agenda No.1.

Discussion:

This report provided details of the CouncilTaxReductionSchemes (Medway Council) 2013, as set out in Appendix A to the report, as required under the Local Government Finance Act 2012. The Cabinet had considered the issue on 4 September 2012, 27 November 2012 and 18 December 2012 with regards to the consultation process and the draft scheme.

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been undertaken on the proposals, as set out in Appendix C to the report. The assessment had identified a number of potential adverse impacts together with some mitigating factors being incorporated into the scheme.

Councillor Jarrett, Portfolio Holder for Finance and Deputy Leader, supported by Councillor Rodney Chambers, Leader of the Council, proposed the recommendation set out in the report.

Decision:

The Council adopted the Council Tax Support scheme as set out in Appendix A to the report.

Background:

This report provided details of a draft localised council tax support (CTS) scheme as required under the Local Government Finance Act 2012, following the abolition of council tax benefit (CTB) under the Welfare Reform Act 2012.

The requirements of the revision to CTB were reported to Cabinet on 4 September 2012 (decision number 147/2012) and the contents of a consultation on proposals for an eight week period were agreed (decision number 148/2012).

The Cabinet considered the results of the consultation exercise on 27 November 2012 and asked officers to draw up a local council tax support scheme based upon the preferred scheme that was part of the consultation (decision number 189/2012).

The report set out the main provisions of the Scheme, which had been issued to Cabinet Members in Supplementary Agenda No.2.

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been undertaken and was attached at Appendix A to the report. The assessment identified a number of potential adverse impacts together with some mitigating factors being incorporated into the scheme.

Reasons:

The scheme balances the need for supporting those currently in receipt of council tax benefit and the ability of the Council to fund the scheme within the current budgetary constraints. 

The scheme has been drawn up in accordance with Cabinet’s recommendation on 27 November 2012, which was reflective of the fact that the majority of respondents to the consultation were in agreement with the principles of the scheme.

CIPFA have confirmed that the scheme meets the aims and recommendations of Cabinet.