Issue - meetings

The Executive Member for Financial Sustainability presented the Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2024-25 recommendation. He said that it was a government requirement that the Council gave the scheme annual approval. He said the recommendation was that the scheme was to remain unchanged and it would be monitored in relation to case numbers, any changes to Universal Credit and improvements to automation and efficiency. He said that the scheme had remained unchanged since 2013 and there was no persuasive argument to make changes, giving certainty to residents.

Councillor Brittain proposed that the recommendation in the report be supported. Councillor Goldspink seconded the proposal and thanked Officers for their detailed work on the report and confirmed that it had been discussed by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Executive.

Councillor Williamson said that there had been a consistent view from the Council from the inception of the scheme and was pleased to see that the new administration had seen fit to not alter it.

The motion to support the recommendation having been proposed and seconded was put to the meeting and upon a vote being taken, was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED - That no changes be made to the Council Tax Support scheme for 2024/25.

The Executive Member for Financial Sustainability presented the Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2024-25. He said that it was a government requirement that the Council approved the scheme annually and the recommendation was to leave the scheme unchanged. The scheme had remained the same since 2013 and there was no persuasive argument to make any changes and would provide additional certainty to residents at a difficult time.

Councillor Daar said that she had been to the Joint Revenues and Benefits Committee in Stevenage and was impressed by how hard the officers worked with recruitment difficulties and the extra demands from the government on covid and energy support grants. She congratulated officers and managing that alongside their day-to-day workload.

Councillor Goldspink thanked Officers for their detailed report and the careful consideration of all the options. She said that the final recommendation was sensible, and she fully supported it.

Councillor Brittain proposed, and Councillor Goldspink seconded a motion supporting the recommendation in the report. On being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED - To recommend to Council that no changes be made to the Council Tax Support scheme for 2024/25.