Issue - meetings

The Chief Officer, Community and Enterprise provided information on the proposed implementation of a revised Pensioner Grant scheme in 2014-15 to those Council Tax payers in receipt of partial awards under the Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS).

                        In 2013-14 the Welsh Government (WG) prescribed a new national grant scheme with a targeted approach to provide a grant to those pensioners who already received partial awards under the CTRS.  In Flintshire, 2,233 households qualified for funding of up to £100, although some households received less due to their net Council Tax liability being less than £100.

                        The WG had decided that they would not operate a national grant scheme for 2014-15, however within the Revenue Support Grant they had included £201,700 identified for the funding of a pensioner grant scheme at the discretion of each authority.  WG had not stipulated that the grant should be paid to pensioners; however a review of North and Mid Wales local authorities showed that all were proposing to pay the grant with the exception of Wrexham and Denbighshire. 

                        Data analysis work had calculated that there were 2,204 households in Flintshire, who were in receipt of Council Tax Reductions and would qualify for funding.  It was not possible to identify the number of pensioners who would qualify if restrictions on applicants were not introduced however statistics from 2012-13 indicated a minimum of 8,700 applicants which would reduce the grant to £23.18 per applicant. 

                        The demands and funding availability had been assessed to produce criteria which were based on the continuation of the 2013/14 WG Scheme to ensure continuity and an equitable distribution of the grant, targeted to those taxpayers in most need of financial help.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the revised funding availability for a Pensioner Grant scheme be noted and that a scheme for Flintshire for 2014-15 be agreed;

(b)       That the following scheme as prepared by Revenues and Benefits Senior Officers be approved:

Pensioner Grant Scheme

·         That the grant is only payable to pensioners who fulfil the criteria at the qualifying date of 30 June

·         A maximum award of £95.  The qualifying criteria is:

o   Either the claimant or the partner to the claimant has reached the age of 60 and is liable for Council Tax at a property which is deemed to be a ‘sole and main’ residence, and

o   The claimant qualifies for partial Council Tax Support, but not the maximum level of support on the qualifying date and there is a net liability to Council Tax (after any other discounts or reductions, for example single person discount or disabled banding relief)

o   Should the net liability be below the £95 maximum level of award then the credit to the Council Tax account will only be up to the net liability

o   The minimum award will be £10

o   Grant awards will be automatically credited to the Council Tax accounts of qualifying households during July 2014