Issue - meetings

The Director of Finance and Support Services submitted a report inviting Members to consider the latest available information around the current local Council Tax Support (CTS) scheme at East Herts and whether any changes to the scheme should be considered for 2017/18.  The Head of the Revenues and Benefits Shared Service provided a summary of the report, as detailed.

Members debated the report at length, seeking information and clarification from Officers on a number of aspects, including the impact of any proposed change.

Members received the report and supported a recommendation that the Executive be advised that, the Council should look towards removing the empty and uninhabited properties discounts and lowering the number of empty and unfurnished properties discounts on a reducing basis.  Additionally, the Head of the Revenues and Benefits Shared Service was asked to carry out a modelling exercise on a number of financial options for further consideration by the Executive based on discouraging and reducing empty homes.  Finally, Members also supported a recommendation that the Council Tax Reduction Scheme should remain unchanged, for the time being.

RESOLVED – that the Executive be advised that Corporate Business Scrutiny supports :

(A)     a move towards removing discounts for empty and uninhabited properties and discounts for those properties which are empty and unfurnished, on a reducing basis;

(B)     the Head of the Revenues and Benefits Shared Service being asked to model a number of financial options based on discouraging and reducing empty homes, for consideration by the Executive; and

(C)   the Council Tax Reduction Scheme remain unchanged for the time being.