Issue - meetings

Arising from a report of the Head of Finance, the Community Well Being Policy Development Group has made the following recommendation: that Cabinet note the reasons for the proposal, the consultation process and requirement to approve a revised scheme by 31 January 2017. 

Arising from a report * of the Head of Finance, the Community Well Being Policy Development Group has made the following recommendation: that Cabinet note the reasons for the proposal, the consultation process and requirement to approve a revised scheme by 31 January 2017.

The Cabinet Member for Finance explained that Council Tax Reduction (CTR) (also known as Council Tax Support) was introduced on 1 April 2013 and replaced Council Tax Benefit, which had been previously fully funded by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

CTR was a local reduction scheme. The scheme for working-age customers (those below the age to claim State Pension) was set out in the CTR Scheme Policy. The requirement to have a policy was within S13A and Schedule 1a of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

The scheme for pension-age customers was a national scheme and was prescribed within Government legislation. Pensioners were protected in order to receive the same level of support they received under the DWP Council Tax Benefit Scheme up to 31 March 2013.

The scheme had been discussed at a recent meeting of Chief Executives in Devon and it had been agreed that minor changes should be considered.  In order to undertake any changes it was necessary to go out to consultation.  It had been agreed that Devon County Council (DCC) would undertake the consultation.  Proposed changes were to align to the current criteria for housing benefit claims and Universal Credit.

Results of the consultation would be fed back to the Group in September.

Consideration was given to:

·         Consultation which would be mainly web-based but would also involve direct communication with those known to be affected, and consultation with stakeholders such as CHAT (Churches Housing Action Group) and the Citizens Advice Bureau  would also take place;

·         Proposed changes only applied to those making new claims from April 2017 and self-employed applicants.

RESOLVED that the reasons for the proposal, the consultation process and requirement to approve a revised scheme by 31 January 2017 be NOTED.

(Proposed by the Chairman)

Note: *Report previously circulated, copy attached to minutes.

To receive a report from the Head of Finance providing members with details of the proposed changes to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme from April 2017.

The Group had before it a report * from the Head of Finance providing members with details of the proposed changes to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme from April 2017.

The Head of Finance explained that Council Tax Reduction (CTR) (also known as Council Tax Support) was introduced on 1 April 2013 and replaced Council Tax Benefit, which had been previously fully funded by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

CTR was a local reduction scheme. The scheme for working-age customers (those below the age to claim State Pension) was set out in the CTR Scheme Policy. The requirement to have a policy was within S13A and Schedule 1a of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

The scheme for pension-age customers was a national scheme and was prescribed within Government legislation. Pensioners were protected in order to receive the same level of support they received under the DWP Council Tax Benefit Scheme up to 31 March 2013.

The scheme had been discussed at a recent meeting of Chief Executives in Devon and it had been agreed that minor changes should be considered.  In order to undertake any changes it was necessary to go out to consultation.  It had been agreed that Devon County Council (DCC) would undertake the consultation.  Proposed changes were to align to the current criteria for housing benefit claims and Universal Credit.

Results of the consultation would be fed back to the Group in September.

It was AGREED that a Member Briefing be put in place.

The Benefits Manager confirmed that single person discounts remained unchanged and that financial advice would be available to anyone adversely affected by changes.

It was RECOMMENDED that Cabinet note the reasons for the proposal, the consultation process and requirement to approve a revised scheme by 31 January 2017. 

(Proposed by the Chairman)

Note: - * Report previously circulated and attached to Minutes.