Issue - decisions

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet recommend to Council:-

a)     To increase the standard earnings disregard and remove the additional earnings disregard, as detailed in Section 7 of the Cabinet report, from 1 April 2024;

b)     That a Task and Finish Group review a Banded scheme during 2024;

c)     That the full disregard of war pension income in the assessment of Housing Benefit, as detailed in Section 9 of the Cabinet report, be approved; and

d)     That the updated National Non-Domestic Rate Relief policy as detailed in Section 10 of the Cabinet report, be approved.

KEY DECISION:

Report to Cabinet and Council.

PORTFOLIO:

Finance and Corporate

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED/REJECTED:

As set out in report.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:

None

DISCUSSION:

The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Corporate presented the report.  It was highlighted that a Task and Finish Group had reviewed the Council’s scheme to ensure it was fit for purpose.  The review had concluded little in the way of changes.   Minor changes had been proposed to the scheme to enable it easier for the service to administer and reduce costs.

The Service Manager for Revenues, Benefits and Customer Services outlined the report.  There were three aspects which the Task and Finish Group had reviewed, the local council tax support scheme, housing benefit disregard of war pension income and the national non-domestic rate relief policy.

The Council Tax support scheme supported roughly 8,000 claimants with over £9.5m in support towards paying Council Tax.  The recommendation proposed a technical change to the scheme on how earnings would be treated.  It was proposed to remove the additional earnings disregard and instead increase the standard earnings disregard for all claimants in work.  This would simplify the process for the District Council and for claimants, enable automation of data received from Universal Credit and keep the overall cost of the scheme the same.  It would also incentivise work to those not in work.

No change was proposed to the full disregard of war pension income and only minor changes were proposed to the National Non-Domestic Rate Relief Policy, attached as an Appendix to the report.