Issue - meetings

Council Tax Support Scheme 2024 / 25

RECOMMENDED

(i)         That the following changes to the existing schemes are approved:

a.         a cost of living increase in line with the Department for Work and Pensions schemes be included in the Local Council Tax Support (LCTS) Scheme for 2024 / 25 for Pensioners only;

b.         that any legislative changes being introduced to the Housing Benefit Scheme, for 2024 / 25 are mirrored in the Council’s LCTS Scheme to ensure consistency;

c.         minor technical amendments to ensure that we are able to administer the Scheme reflecting current local and national guidance and that we may disregard anything determined to be a local welfare payment from our calculation;

(ii)        that these decisions have been made following Members careful reading of and regard to the Equality Impact Assessment at APPENDIX 1;

(iii)       that Members note the unchanged framework for the Hardship Provision at APPENDIX 2;

(iv)       that the Policy document at APPENDIX 3 be approved;

(v)        that the Policy document at APPENDIX 4 be approved.

Business Rate and Council Tax Discretionary Policies

RECOMMENDED

(i)         That the proposed Discretionary Non-Domestic Rate Relief Scheme at APPENDIX 5 be approved.

(ii)        That the proposed Empty Homes and Second Homes Premium Policy at APPENDIX 6 be approved.

Please note that the following recommendations coming forward from the Strategy and Resources Committee are not for consideration at this point as they form part of Agenda Item 9 – 2024 / 25 Budget and Medium-Term Financial Strategy, due to be considered at this meeting:

·                  Treasury Management Strategy 2024 / 25;

·                  Capital and Investment Strategies for 2024 / 25 and Minimum Revenue Statement 2024 / 25;

·                  2023 / 24 Revised and Original 2024 / 25 Budget Estimates;

·                  Medium-Term Financial Strategy 2024 / 25 – 2026 / 27;

·                  Income and Savings Proposals 2024 / 25 to 2026 / 27.

The Council considered the following recommendations coming forward from the Strategy and Resources Committee for consideration.

Council Tax Support Scheme 2024 / 25

Councillor M F L Durham, Chairperson of the Strategy and Resources Committee proposed that the recommendation be accepted, this was duly seconded and agreed.

RESOLVED

(i)         That the following changes to the existing schemes are approved:

a.    a cost of living increase in line with the Department for Work and Pensions schemes be included in the Local Council Tax Support (LCTS) Scheme for 2024 / 25 for Pensioners only;

b.    that any legislative changes being introduced to the Housing Benefit Scheme, for 2024 / 25 are mirrored in the Council’s LCTS Scheme to ensure consistency;

c.    minor technical amendments to ensure that we are able to administer the Scheme reflecting current local and national guidance and that we may disregard anything determined to be a local welfare payment from our calculation;

(ii)        that these decisions have been made following Members careful reading of and regard to the Equality Impact Assessment at Appendix 1 to the report considered by the Strategy and Resources Committee;

(iii)       that Members note the unchanged framework for the Hardship Provision at Appendix 2 to the report considered by the Strategy and Resources Committee;

(iv)       that the Policy document at Appendix 3 to the report considered by the Strategy and Resources Committeebe approved;

(v)        that the Policy document at Appendix 4 to the report considered by the Strategy and Resources Committeebe approved.

Business Rate and Council Tax Discretionary Policies

Councillor Durham then proposed that the recommendation be accepted, this was duly seconded and agreed.

RESOLVED

(i)         That the proposed Discretionary Non-Domestic Rate Relief Scheme at Appendix 1 to the report considered by the Strategy and Resources Committee be approved.

(ii)        That the proposed Empty Homes and Second Homes Premium Policy at Appendix 2 to the report considered by the Strategy and Resources Committee be approved.

Members were reminded that the following recommendations coming forward from this Committee were not for consideration at this point as they formed part of the following Agenda Items:

·                  9 – 2024 / 25 Budget and Medium-Term Financial Strategy:

·                 Treasury Management 2024 / 25.

·                  Capital and Investment Strategies for 2024 / 25 and Minimum Reserve Statement 2024 / 25;

·                  2023 / 24 Revised and Original 2024 / 25 Budget Estimates;

·                  Medium-Term Financial Strategy 2024 / 25 – 2026 / 27;

·                  15 - Income and Savings Proposals 2024 / 25 to 2026 / 27