Decision details

Council Tax Support Scheme - Discretionary Relief Policy

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Decisions:

The Cabinet Member for Central and Support Services introduced a report by the Interim Director of Resources which gave details of the proposed Council Tax Discretionary Relief Policy under Section 13A of the Local Government Finance Act (LGFA) 1992 to be adopted to support individual cases of Hardship. It also outlined the criteria, procedure and review process. The Cabinet was asked to consider the scheme and approve its use. 

 

The report also recommended that delegated authority be given to the Strategic Director - Transformation and Resources and senior officers to determine individual applications of exceptional hardship. 

 

The Leader of the Council commented that the abolition of the Council Tax Benefit and the 10 per cent cut in direct grant, equivalent to £2.6m was hitting 15,600 working age people who had seen their entitlement to help in paying Council Tax capped at 78 per cent. The best the Council could do within its current financial circumstances was to offer a £50,000 hardship relief fund.

 

This would be funded from year one by using an element of the Local Welfare Assistance Grant (£1,345,925 in 2013/14) which was a non ring fenced grant. Local Welfare Assistance take up was now increasing but was lower than expected in the initial first five months and this sum did not then impact on the ongoing available assistance. The grant was used to support people facing financial hardship which would also be the purpose of this relief.

 

RESOLVED: That

 

(1)  the policy, guidance and scheme of delegation, as set out in the appendix to the report, relating to Section 13a of Local Government Finance Act 1992, in respect of Discretionary Relief for Council Tax is adopted. The policy is to be reviewed and reported back later in the new financial year to agree its ongoing adoption for future years; and

 

(2)  the sum of £50,000 be set as the Hardship Relief for this purpose.

Publication date: 15/10/2013

Date of decision: 10/10/2013

Decided at meeting: 10/10/2013 - Cabinet

Effective from: 23/10/2013

Accompanying Documents: