Issue - meetings

To consider the recommendations from Cabinet.

Consideration was given to the recommendations of Cabinet on the Council Tax Support Scheme for 2020/21.

The scheme had been last fully reviewed in 2015 and changes were made following a public consultation for 2016/17.  Under the current means-tested scheme every change of income, no matter how small, resulted in the claim being reassessed.  It was proposed that the scheme be based on income bands, removing multiple changes to assessment levels and reducing the number of Council Tax demands issued throughout the year, providing the income remained in the same income band. The scheme would be much simpler, making it easier for customers to understand.

RESOLVED:  That

1        the Council Tax Support scheme for 2020/21 be amended as follows:

(a)  Introduce a ‘banded scheme’, that is reviewed annually in line with the Consumer Price Index for September of the preceding year, with the income initial bands and levels of support set as follows:

Table 1 Proposed income bands and support for working age claimants

(b)  Disregard the first £40 weekly income for those customers classed as disabled under the current scheme;

(c)  Fully disregard Carer’s allowance;

(d)  Disregard the first £25 of all weekly-earned income;

(e)  Increase the maximum period that claims for Council Tax Support can be backdated from 13 weeks to 12 months, where customers can show good reasons for the delay;

(f)    Increase the fixed non-dependent deduction for other adults in the household from £7 to £8 per week;

(g)  Stop the additional 8 weeks top-up payment for some people who start work, known as extended payments; and

2        note that, apart from the resolutions listed above, all other elements of the scheme are to remain unchanged.