Agenda item

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources advising Members of the urgent decision of the Managing Director concerning the requirement to review the Local Council Tax Support scheme (LCTS) within 3 years of the Act taking effect and consider its impact locally, following the consultation results.

59.1    Council considered the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources which advised Members of the urgent decision of the Managing Director concerning the requirement to review the Local Council Tax Support scheme within three years of the Act taking effect and consider its impact locally following the consultation results.

59.2    Councillor Norman moved the recommendations as set out in the report and noted that it had been necessary for the Managing Director to make an urgent decision in order to meet the statutory deadlines as it was not possible for Council to approve the changes due to the postponement of the meeting scheduled for 26^th January to enable a decision to be made on the JCS proposed main modifications in line with the two other partner authorities.

59.3    Councillor James seconded the motion.

59.4    Councillor Haigh challenged the reasoning behind the recommendations as she believed that devolving the cuts in support to those in receipt would result in them blaming the Council rather than the Government. She indicated that she would abstain from voting.

59.5    RESOLVED:

1.    To note the urgent decision of the Managing Director to review the Local Council Tax Support  scheme and bring it in line with recent welfare reforms and changes to Housing Benefit legislation (Appendices 1 and 2).

2.    To further note the urgent decision of the Managing Director that the recommendations relating to limiting the support for families to two children for new claims and births after 1^st April 2017 (mirroring the changes to Tax Credits) so that any subsequent children born after April 2017 will not be eligible for further support, be adopted into the Local Council Tax Support scheme from 1^st April 2017. This is alongside changes to Housing Benefit legislation.