Issue - meetings

To receive a report providing an update on the operation of the CTS scheme since the Council made amendments for 2024-25, alongside recommendations for 2026/27.

Executive Councillor: S Ferguson

The Cabinet noted the contents of the report and endorsed the recommendation that the scheme principles for 2026-27 remain unchanged, ensuring that the scheme continues to deliver support to low-income households across the district in line with the Corporate Priorities to improve the quality of life for local people, and to deliver good quality, high value-for-money services.

A report by the Revenue and Benefits Manager was submitted (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) providing an update on the operation of the Council Tax Support (CTS) scheme since 2024-25, alongside recommendations for 2026/27.

The Executive Councillor for Resident Services and Corporate Performance – Councillor Ferguson, set out the report and paid credit to the officers involved for doing proper simulation and due diligence. He referenced that the Scrutiny Panel were highly supportive of the scheme; a scheme which was one of the successes of this Council. Credit was given to officers who had designed this well, did proper due diligence up front, detected risks and had delivered the scheme which not only had saved people money, but also made the Council more efficient and able to serve them better.

In response to questions from the Cabinet, the Executive Councillor for Resident Services and Corporate Performance – Councillor Ferguson advised that there had been an increase in numbers due to the scheme being linked to Universal Credit which had automatically triggered those people who were entitled to the benefit who may not have been aware previously.

The Cabinet noted the remarkable reduction in the average number of days taken to process changes in circumstances and congratulated the team of officers for this achievement. It also noted that the support scheme had made a huge difference to residents’ mental health; money issues were often the cause of mental health problems and the scheme helped take some of that pressure off. Furthermore, the scheme was a reflection of the Council’s collective values, and it was right that support be given regardless of age to those who were least able to pay Council Tax.

The Executive Councillor for Resident Services and Corporate Performance – Councillor Ferguson commented that as LGR was approaching, there may be an opportunity to convince other authorities who had less generous schemes, of the benefit of this scheme which provided a genuine benefit to society.

The Cabinet were of the opinion that it was better to help people that needed help rather than spend that money to go to court. The measures were a good example of when a change in policy not only brought a better outcome for people but was also a better use of the limited resources the Council had, which could result in an opportunity for a case study. The money could be regenerated into frontline services and potentially the most vulnerable residents.

Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

that the Cabinet noted the contents of the report and endorsed the recommendation that the scheme principles for 2026-27 remain unchanged, ensuring that the scheme continues to deliver support to low-income households across the District in line with the Corporate Priorities to improve the quality of life for local people, and to deliver good quality, high value-for-money services.