Issue - items at meetings - Preparations for Council Tax Support System

Report of the Director of Finance (copy attached).

245.1    Councillor J. Kitcat introduced the report which detailed the need for the council to introduce its own local council tax support system, as a result of the Government deciding to withdraw the national council tax benefits system from 1^st April 2013.  It meant that there was a need for the council to develop its own benefits model and to consult on a possible discounts scheme that could be introduced in 2013.  At present the government had not issued any guidance to assist local authorities in developing their own systems and therefore the proposed process for taking this forward was outlined in the report.

245.2    Councillor Mitchell welcomed the report as an initial first draft and stated that the Labour & Co-operative Group  would support working towards developing the council’s own maximum discount scheme.  She was concerned about the lack of guidance from the government and hoped that information would be forthcoming around such issues as empty and second homes.

245.3    Councillor A. Norman acknowledged that the government’s proposals were challenging and key information had yet to be made available.  However, there was a need to plan ahead as early as possible and she welcomed the report at this stage.  She hoped that neighbouring authorities would be consulted and best practice shared as part of the development of the council’s scheme.  She also asked if further information could be provided in regard to the £750k that had been set aside in the budget for this matter and how it was to be utilised.

245.4    Councillor J. Kitcat noted the comments and stated that a South East 7 Working Group had been established at both Member and officer level and neighbouring authorities would be consulted throughout the development process, although there was a recognised need for the council to have its own system.  He was also happy to ensure that further information was shared with Members as it became available.

245.5    The Chair then put the recommendations to the vote.

245.6    RESOLVED:

(1)         That options for a new local Council Tax Support system be modelled on the basis of a maximum discount scheme as set out in paragraph 3.14 of the report;

(2)         That the provisional timeline for decisions as set out in paragraph 3.20 of the report be noted; and

(3)         That the initial programme of engagement and consultation on the key issues set out in section 4 of the report be agreed.