Issue - meetings

Matter for Decision: The report provided details of the review of the Council’s 2014-15 Council Tax Reduction Scheme and proposals for the continuation of the current scheme rules for the financial year 2015-16 and details of the Discretionary Council Tax Reduction Scheme.

 

Decision of the Executive Councillor for Finance and Resources

 

The Executive Councillor resolved to:

 

i.       Agree to continue to administer the Cambridge City Council - Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2013 (Persons who are not Pensioners).

 

ii.     Understand the change in the way that Council Tax Reduction Schemes would be funded by Government from 2015-16 onwards as detailed in Section 4 of the officer’s report.

 

iii.   Agree to invoke the Council’s right under paragraph 42(2) of the Scheme to set the applicable amounts in Schedule 1 in accordance with the annual uprating of applicable amounts, which would shortly be laid by Parliament as an amending statutory instrument to the Regulations.

 

iv.   Agree under paragraph 48(10) of the scheme to set the amounts of non-dependent deductions annually and to increase the amounts set in sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) by 1.2% in line with the published Consumer Prices Inflation (CPI) for September 2014 or to set them at the rate under the Prescribed Regulations, whichever is the higher.

 

v.    Agree to retain the End of Calculation Deduction as set out in paragraph 49A of the Scheme at “zero” per cent.

 

vi.   Agree to continue with the current position regarding discounts for empty dwellings and second homes.

 

vii.  Approve the attached Cambridge City Council Discretionary Council Tax Reduction Scheme, incorporating powers to grant a reduction or further reduction under section 13A(1)(c) of the Finance Act 1992.

 

viii.                   Delegate authority to the Head of Revenues and Benefits to determine such applications for Council Tax Discretionary Reduction where they relate to individual cases of exceptional financial hardship.

 

Reasons for the Decision: As set out in the officer’s report

 

Any alternative options considered and rejected: As set out in the officer’s report

 

Scrutiny Considerations:

 

The committee received a report from the Head of Revenues and Benefits.

 

In response to member’s questions the Head of Revenues and Benefits said the following:

 

       i.          The number of people receiving a Council Tax reduction had fallen from 7112 in 2011-12 to 6838 in 2014/15. This was due to more people being in paid employment and the subsequent reduction in support needed. 

 

The Scrutiny Committee considered the recommendations and endorsed them unanimously.

 

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations.

 

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted):

 

Not applicable.