Issue - meetings
Council Tax Reduction Scheme
Meeting: 17/12/2014 - Council (Item 431)
Council Tax Support Scheme
Note – Members are asked to bring their copies of the Executive agendas to the meeting.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
RESOLVED – that (A) the comments of Corporate Business Scrutiny Committee be received;
(B) the forecasted financial implications arising from the recommended scheme for the Council Tax reduction scheme (CTS) with effect from 1 April 2015 and the risks and assumptions attached to these, be noted; and
(C) the proposed CTS Scheme be approved.
(see also Minute 430)
Meeting: 02/12/2014 - Executive (Item 387)
387 Council Tax Reduction Scheme 
PDF 179 KB
Additional documents:
- Council Tax Reduction Scheme - ERP A (implications), item 387
PDF 156 KB
- Council Tax Reduction Scheme - ERP B (Letters to HCC and Herts Constabulary) (redacted), item 387
PDF 179 KB
- Council Tax Reduction Scheme - ERP C (Scheme), item 387
PDF 1 MB
- Council Tax Reduction Scheme - ERP D (EQIA Worksheet 2015), item 387
PDF 86 KB
- Webcast for Council Tax Reduction Scheme
Minutes:
The Executive Member of Finance submitted a report proposing a local Council Tax Support Scheme (CTS) from April2015. He detailed the financial and equality impacts of the recommended CTS scheme for East Herts’ residents. He also stated that there were no proposed changes to the scheme from last year and that the Council would be supporting the same number of people.
It was noted that the Corporate Business Scrutiny Committee, at its meeting held on 25 November 2014, had supported the proposed scheme. Councillor J Wing referred to the Committee’s suggestion that the proposal should be submitted for consideration earlier in the meetings cycle. The Director of Finance and Support Services advised that this had been taken on board and that the work programme had been amended accordingly, so that the matter would be submitted to the July 2015 meeting.
The Executive supported the proposed CTS as now detailed.
RECOMMENDED – that (A) the comments of Corporate Business Scrutiny Committee be received;
(B) the forecasted financial implications arising from the recommended scheme for the Council Tax reduction scheme (CTS) with effect from 1 April 2015 and the risks and assumptions attached to these, be noted; and
(C) the proposed CTS Scheme be approved.
Meeting: 25/11/2014 - Corporate Business Scrutiny Committee (Item 372)
372 Council Tax Reduction Scheme PDF 179 KB
Additional documents:
- Council Tax Reduction Scheme - ERPA (implications), item 372
PDF 156 KB
- Council Tax Reduction Scheme - ERPB (Letters to HCC and Herts Constabulary), item 372
PDF 225 KB
- Council Tax Reduction Scheme - ERPC (CTRS), item 372
PDF 1 MB
- Council Tax Reduction Scheme - ERPD (EQIA Worksheet 2015), item 372
PDF 86 KB
Minutes:
The Director of Finance and Support Services submitted a report regarding arrangements which would enable the Council to implement a local Council Tax Support scheme (CTS) from April 2015. The report also detailed the financial and equality impacts of the recommended CTS scheme for East Herts’ residents.
The Director of Finance and Support Services stated that there were no proposed changes to the scheme from last year and that the Council was supporting the same number of people. She reminded Members of the requirements of the CTS and confirmed that pensioners were protected. The Director of Finance and Support Services stated that it was a complex scheme to calculate, there were no “de minimus” arrangements in place and that any kind of change reported by a beneficiary, needed a complete recalculation of entitlement. This made CTS an onerous and resource intensive scheme to administer. She explained that next year, an Officer would be tasked with undertaking a modelling exercise of the scheme to consider alternative schemes.
Councillor J Wyllie asked whether those in the Armed Forces, suffering from combat stress were provided with help. He also raised the issue of same sex marriages and whether there should be specific mention of the new legal status in the scheme. The Director of Finance and Support Services undertook to clarify the position of the Armed Covenant and provide and a written response on both issues.
Councillor T Page sought clarification of the impact of pensioners’ claims on the scheme. The Director of Finance and Support Services explained that pensioners were excluded from the scheme so were not included in any calculation.
In response to a query from Councillor M Pope regarding resource demands, the Director of Finance and Support Service provided a summary of the peaks and troughs of the work, how staff in revenues and benefits coped, the additional resources now in place to employ more staff and how the Council was supporting the CAB in providing debt advice to help break the cycle of debt.
Councillor J Wing sought clarification on the percentage of Council Tax accounted for by the CTS. The Director of Finance and Support Services explained that as of 1 November 2014, collectible Council Tax was £89.5 million and Council Tax Support awarded was £6.087 million. This was across all bodies on whose behalf the Council collected Council Tax.
Councillor J Wing expressed concern about those people who might be disabled and therefore, unable to increase their income. He referred to the absence of information on approaches taken by other Districts to mitigate the impact of the introduction of the scheme. The Director of Finance and Support Services assured the Member that the Council did take on board what measures were being used by other Councils. She added that the scheme proposed by East Herts had the least impact possible on Council Tax payers.
The Chairman suggested that Officers should bring a report to an earlier meeting in the cycle next year. This was supported. ... view the full minutes text for item 372