Issue - meetings

The Executive Member for Finance and Support Services submitted a report about the current local Council Tax Support Scheme (CTS) and considered whether any changes to the scheme should be considered for 2020/21. 

The Head of the Revenues and Benefits Shared Service provided a summary of the report in the form of a PowerPoint presentation.  She said that the Authority must agree a scheme for the coming financial year not later than 11 March 2020, even if no change was proposed.

Members were advised of the actions that would be required if changes to the scheme were proposed.  The Head of the Shared Service stated that Officers had considered ways of changing the scheme to simplify  and reduce costs.  She detailed the actions that had been taken by the Authority since 2013.  She highlighted the current likely minimum costs to the customer.

The Head of the Shared Service updated the Committee in respect of Universal Credit and summarised the differences between Housing Benefit, Council Tax Support and Universal Credit.  She said that the recommendation was not to change anything now until such time as Universal Credit was rolled out which will reduce the administrative burden.

The Head of the Shared Service referred to the ongoing preparations for the migration of the residual working age caseload and the evaluation of a discount or banded scheme for working age Council Tax Support customers on Universal Credit.

Councillor A Alder said that, as at 31 March 2019, there were 1002 working customers in receipt of Council Tax Support (CTS) who had arrears outstanding from the 2018/19 tax year.  She believed that the value of these arrears amounted to £214,000.

The Head of the Shared Service responded to a query from Councillor L Corpe in respect of learning from other Authorities regarding software providers.  It was moved by Councillor A Alder and seconded by Councillor L Corpe that the Executive be advised that Performance, Audit and Governance Oversight Committee recommends that there should be no change to the 2020/21 Council Tax Reduction Scheme.  After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – that the Executive be advised that Performance, Audit and Governance Oversight Committee recommends that there should be no change to the 2020/21 Council Tax Reduction Scheme.