Issue - meetings

1. That the publication of a draft local council tax support scheme for consultation, for 2019-2020 onwards be approved, containing the following revisions:

a. A minimum change rule where changes in weekly entitlement of £3 or less are not applied.

b. Financial and household information used to assess entitlement to Universal Credit to be used to determine council tax support entitlement.

c. The notification of an award of specified benefits to count as a claim for council tax support.

2. That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Resources, in consultation with the Head of Revenues and Benefits, to approve the documents to be issued for consultation.

3. That it be noted, following the outcome of the consultation a further report would be submitted to Cabinet on 23 January 2019 to enable a final scheme to be recommended to Council on 6 March 2019.

Councillor Louise Miles presented the Local Council Tax Support Scheme for approval and for delegated authority to approve the consultation documents. Full options had been considered and changes to the scheme would be subject to public consultation prior to consideration by Full Council. The proposals aimed to address some of the expected impacts of the roll-out of Universal Credit on the administration of the local council tax support scheme.

Resolved:

1. That the publication of a draft local council tax support scheme for consultation, for 2019-2020 onwards be approved, containing the following revisions:

a. A minimum change rule where changes in weekly entitlement of £3 or less were not applied.

b. Financial and household information used to assess entitlement to Universal Credit to be used to determine council tax support entitlement.

c. The notification of an award of specified benefits to count as a claim for council tax support.

2. That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Resources, in consultation with the Head of Revenues and Benefits, to approve the documents to be issued for consultation.

3. That it be noted, following the outcome of the consultation a further report would be submitted to Cabinet on 23 January 2019 to enable a final scheme to be recommended to Council on 6 March 2019.