Issue - items at meetings - Council Tax Support System - draft scheme

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Issue - meetings

Council Tax Support System - draft scheme

Meeting: 12/07/2012 - Policy & Resources Committee (pre 2015) (Item 25)

25 Council Tax Support System - draft scheme pdf icon PDF 137 KB

Report of the Director of Finance (to be circulated separately).

Additional documents:

Decision:

(1)               That the Government’s Statement of Intent be noted;

 

(2)               That the feedback from the consultation with Major Precepting Authorities be noted;

 

(3)               That the feedback from the initial consultation with other stakeholders be noted;

 

(4)               That the Transition Principles and Scheme Principles be agreed as the basis for the draft Scheme as set out in paragraph 3.7 of the report;

 

(5)               That the draft Brighton & Hove Council Tax Low Income Discount Scheme (the “draft Scheme”) as set out in paragraph 3.8 of the report be agreed;

 

(6)               That the draft Scheme be published and formal consultation and next steps undertaken as set out in paragraphs 3.11 to 3.18 of the report;

 

(7)               That the key issues to be raised in response to the government’s consultation on funding arrangements, as set out in paragraph 3.19 of the report, be agreed;

 

(8)               That the Director of Finance be authorised to (a) settle the final draft of the Scheme for publication, the detailed arrangements for formal consultation, and the response to the government’s consultation on funding arrangements and (b) take any other steps considered necessary for progressing the proposed Scheme;

 

(9)               That the final proposed Scheme be brought back to Policy & Resources Committee and Full Council in October 2012.

Minutes:

25.1         The Chair welcomed the report which detailed the requirement for the council to provide its own local Council Tax Benefits system from the 1st April 2013 and the process to enable such provision to be made.  He also stated that he would be asking the Overview & Scrutiny Committee to agree to a scrutiny review for this matter.  He welcomed the comments from the CVSF, Fire and Police and recommended that Members refer to appendix 2 to the report as it provided a clear explanation of the position and the draft scheme.

 

25.2         The Director of Finance stated that the provision of such a scheme was complex and it was important to get it right as it would need to be able to provide for those that qualified for support.  There would be a full consultation exercise and a further report to the committee and full council in the autumn.

 

25.3         Councillor Littman stated that he wished to thank the officers involved in producing the draft scheme and for their work to date.  He noted the positive input from overview & scrutiny on the draft scheme and that neighbouring authorities were as concerned about the extra pressure this placed on families and councils.

 

25.4         Councillor G. Theobald welcomed the report and noted the comments from the Fire Authority and Police.  He referred to paragraph 5.1 and the estimated cost of £23.5 and queried whether it would be £24.5m in 2013/14 if the council tax increase was set at 3.5%.

 

25.5         The Chair confirmed that every 1% increase on council tax equated to an extra £1m increase on council tax benefit.

 

25.6         Councillor Mitchell thanked the officers for the report and their work to date and stated that the Labour & Co-operative Group fully supported the principles of the draft scheme and welcomed the consultation process that had taken place and that was planned.  She hoped that the draft scheme would be well publicised so that people were made aware of the changes and that support would be available in due course to help those affected.

 

25.7         Councillor Ann Norman welcomed the report and stated that she hoped the scheme would be in place and believed that it would help to bring people back into work and encourage young people to find employment.

 

25.8         Councillor Hamilton welcomed the report but noted that there was a likelihood of another 10,000 households being affected and having to pay council tax who would not have had to previously and therefore would need help with the scheme. 

 

25.9         The Chair noted the comments and put the recommendations to the vote.

 

25.10    RESOLVED;

 

(1)         That the Government’s Statement of Intent be noted;

 

(2)         That the feedback from the consultation with Major Precepting Authorities be noted;

 

(3)         That the feedback from the initial consultation with other stakeholders be noted;

 

(4)         That the Transition Principles and Scheme Principles be agreed as the basis for the draft Scheme as set out in paragraph 3.7 of the report;

 

(5)         That the draft Brighton & Hove Council Tax Low Income Discount Scheme (the “draft Scheme”) as set out in paragraph 3.8 of the report be agreed;

 

(6)         That the draft Scheme be published and formal consultation and next steps undertaken as set out in paragraphs 3.11 to 3.18 of the report;

 

(7)         That the key issues to be raised in response to the government’s consultation on funding arrangements, as set out in paragraph 3.19 of the report, be agreed;

 

(8)         That the Director of Finance be authorised to (a) settle the final draft of the Scheme for publication, the detailed arrangements for formal consultation, and the response to the government’s consultation on funding arrangements and (b) take any other steps considered necessary for progressing the proposed Scheme;

 

(9)         That the final proposed Scheme be brought back to Policy & Resources Committee and Full Council in October 2012.


 


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