Issue - meetings

To consider and adopt a policy to guide the exercise of the Council’s discretion to reduce or remit Council Tax for those who could be considered to be suffering financial hardship.

RESOLVED:

(a)         That the Exceptional Hardship Payments Policy, as set out at Appendix A to Report Item 6 to the Cabinet, be approved and adopted; and

(b)         That the Service Manager be authorised to make decisions in accordance with the policy.

The Cabinet considered an Exceptional Payments Policy to assist residents who had applied for and were entitled to Council Tax Reduction, and who were experiencing exceptional financial hardship.

It was noted that exceptional hardship payments were designed as short term assistance and all applicants would be expected to engage with the Council and take positive steps to help themselves.

The proposed policy had been considered by and endorsed by the Council Tax Reduction Scheme Task and Finish Group.

Members considered that it was essential that the Council offered a safety net to meet the needs of the most vulnerable local residents and welcomed the flexible approach that was proposed.

RESOLVED:

(a)         That the Exceptional Hardship Payments Policy, as set out at Appendix A to Report Item 6 to the Cabinet, be approved and adopted; and

(b)         That the Service Manager be authorised to make decisions in accordance with the policy.