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Details
Business Item
Review of the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2020/21
Date of Decision
Tue 7 Jan 2020
Description
Report of the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Resources, and the Assistant Cabinet Member for Resources
Matter for Decision (to consider...)
To consider whether to review the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme (LCTRS).
Service Area
Financial Services, Corporate Performance & Risk Management
Service Area 2
Not Applicable
Is Decision District Wide
Yes
Decision Made
1. That Cabinet recommends to Full Council that the Council retains the current Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2020/21 as the 8.5% benefit scheme, i.e. the maximum benefit to working age claimants is 91.5%.
2. That Cabinet recommends to Full Council that the Council introduces a tolerance to the treatment of Universal Credit income in the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme as detailed in this report.
Reason for Decision
The Council has completed its annual review of the LCTR scheme it operates and has identified improvements that will both help claimants and the Council reduce the amount of administration and improve clarity within the current scheme.
Alternative Options Considered and Rejected
A more significant policy option would be to consider increasing the contribution rate to more than 8.5%. The possible increase in Council Tax collected for the Council resulting from this is considered to be less than the additional costs of recovery (additional staff, postage and enquires to customer services), including the inability to recover the debt in year by deduction from DWP benefits and therefore this is not recommended.
The changes made to the current scheme have worked well – introducing a tolerance rule for the treatment of UC awards will reduce the number of notifications customers receive to amend their Council Tax payments and provide stability for customer repayments whilst reducing customer contact.
Any Declarations of Interest Declared
None.
Any Dispensation Granted
None.
Decision Criteria
This Decision does not contain any decision criteria records.
Wards
Aldeburgh and Leiston; Beccles and Worlingham; Bungay and Wainford; Carlford and Fynn Valley; Carlton and Whitton; Carlton Colville; Deben; Eastern Felixstowe; Framlingham; Gunton and St Margarets; Halesworth and Blything; Harbour and Normanston; Kelsale and Yoxford; Kesgrave; Kessingland; Kirkley and Pakefield; Lothingland; Martlesham and Purdis Farm; Melton; Orwell and Villages; Oulton Broad; Rendlesham and Orford; Rushmere St Andrew; Saxmundham; Southwold; Western Felixstowe; Wickham Market; Woodbridge; Wrentham, Wangford and Westleton
Topics
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Overview and Scrutiny
This Decision does not contain any Overview and Scrutiny records.
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Decision History
| 20/12/2019 10:44:57 | Matt Makin | Business Item Created | |
| 20/12/2019 10:44:57 | Matt Makin | Committee Added | Cabinet |
| 20/12/2019 10:44:57 | Matt Makin | Meeting Added | 07/01/2020 6:30PM |
| 20/12/2019 10:45:11 | Matt Makin | Ward Added | Aldeburgh and Leiston |
| 20/12/2019 10:45:11 | Matt Makin | Ward Added | Beccles and Worlingham |
| 20/12/2019 10:45:11 | Matt Makin | Ward Added | Bungay and Wainford |
| 20/12/2019 10:45:11 | Matt Makin | Ward Added | Carlford and Fynn Valley |
| 20/12/2019 10:45:11 | Matt Makin | Ward Added | Carlton and Whitton |
| 20/12/2019 10:45:11 | Matt Makin | Ward Added | Carlton Colville |
| 20/12/2019 10:45:11 | Matt Makin | Ward Added | Deben |
Approval/Comments
No history found.