Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Head of Customer Services on Council Tax Support from 1st April 2013.

Recommended to Council that they endorse the Council Tax Support Scheme and authorised the Head of Customer Services to administer the Scheme and amend the Council’s Scheme of Delegation accordingly.

Further to Minute No.12/38 and by way of a report by the Head of Customer Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet were updated with progress made to date to introduce a Local Council Tax Support Scheme from 1st April 2013, as required by the new Local Government Finance Act 2012.

The new Scheme had been considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Social Well-Being) whose comments were relayed to the Cabinet.  Members’ attention was drawn to the impact of the proposals upon Town and Parishes in setting their precepts.  Members were advised that they would need to consider grants to these Councils to provide an element of compensation at their January meeting, once final grant figures are available.

Having noted the responses received to a consultation exercise on the new arrangements and the findings of an Equality Impact Assessment, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  (a)  that Council be recommended to endorse the Council Tax Support Scheme; and

  (b)  that, in accordance with Schedule 10 and Schedule 4 of the Local Government Finance Act 2012, the Head of Customer Services be authorised to administer the Council Tax Support Scheme and the Council’s Scheme of Delegation be amended accordingly.

To receive a report from the Head of Customer Services on Council Tax Support from 1st April 2013.

Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Economic Well-Being) have been invited to attend for discussion on this item.

20 Minutes.

(Councillor B S Chapman, Executive Councillor for Customer Services, was in attendance for consideration of this item).

With the aid of a report by the Head of Customer Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Panel gave consideration to a proposal to adopt a new local Council Tax Support scheme for the District. This scheme would supersede the current national Council Tax Benefit scheme on 1st April 2013.

By way of background, the Executive Councillor for Customer Services acquainted Members with the proposals and drew their attention to the impact of the scheme upon the District whilst providing a comparison of it to the Government’s proposed transitional scheme. The Panel was advised that the draft scheme had been subject to consultation in late summer, which had resulted in changes being made relating to the backdating of payments for up to six months and to the capital limit, which would remain at the existing Council Tax Benefit level of £16,000. These changes had been incorporated within the new scheme.

The Panel discussed at length the impact of the proposals upon Town and Parish precepts. Members acknowledged the difficulties faced by the Head of Customer Services in providing accurate estimates on Council Tax calculations given that they depend on a Government announcement which was expected on 13th December 2012. Town and Parish Councils had been advised by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Association of Local Councils to defer setting their precepts until this announcement had been made. At the request of the Panel, it was agreed that a report outlining the impact of this process on Town and Parish Councils would be made available to Members in February 2013.

Members discussed the groups of individuals who would no longer be eligible for Council Tax assistance under the new scheme; namely those in receipt of Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment Support Allowance. The Panel also considered the recommendation contained within the Equality Impact Assessment relating to the definition of vulnerable groups. The Head of Customer Services advised that legal opinion would be obtained on this matter. Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

  that the Cabinet be recommended

(a)  to have due regard to the findings of the Equality Impact Assessment and approve the proposed Council Tax Support scheme for the District;

(b)  to authorise the Head of Customer Services to administer the Council Tax Support scheme in accordance with Section 10 and Schedule 4 of the Local Government Finance Act 2012; and

(c)  to recommend to Council the subsequent amendments to the Council’s Scheme of Delegation.