Issue - meetings

(a)       That the endorsements of Corporate Resources Overview & Scrutiny Committee on the 17 January and Cabinet on the 22 January 2013 with regard to the Prescribed Regulations and the Discretions for 2013/14 be noted;            

(b)       That the making of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme and Prescribed Requirements (Wales) Regulations, (“the Prescribed Requirement Regulations”) by the National Assembly for Wales on the 19 December 2012 be noted;

(c)        That the outcome of the consultation exercise undertaken by the Council on the introduction of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme, as set out at Appendix 2 of the report be noted;

(d)       That the written statement by the Minister for Local Government and Communities on the 17 January 2013 which sets out the intention to increase the maximum level of support from the current 90% to 100%, as shown at Appendix 1 of the report, be noted;

(e)       That the Prescribed Requirement Scheme as set out at Appendix 2 of the report be adopted, subject to any changes in prescribed limits set by Welsh Government and the consequential detail; and

(f)        That the proposed Discretionary Elements as set out at Appendix 2 of the report be adopted for 2013/14.

The Head of Finance introduced a report which explained the change from Council Tax Benefit to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme, addressed the funding implications and the requirement to adopt the scheme by the 31 January 2013. 

            The report had been considered by the Corporate Resources Overview & Scrutiny Committee on the 17 January 2013 prior to the announcement by Welsh Government (WG) to increase the maximum level of support from 90% to 100%.  This meant that claimants would receive the full amount of support for their council tax bills to which they were eligible.  The report had also been considered by Cabinet on the 22 January 2013 and the recommendations of Cabinet which incorporated the changes announced by WG were shown at Appendix 3 of the County Council report.

            The Cabinet Member for Corporate Management proposed that the County Council support the recommendations as shown in the report and thanked the Head of Finance and her team for the work undertaken in preparing the report.  This proposal was seconded by Councillor J.B. Attridge.    

            The Chief Executive advised that a letter to all Council Tax benefit claimants would be sent out within the next week and a short briefing note would also be circulated to all Members.

            Councillor R.J.T. Guest asked that a briefing note also be sent to all Town and Community Council Clerks to explain the changes to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme as a result of the announcement by WG.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the endorsements of Corporate Resources Overview & Scrutiny Committee on the 17 January and Cabinet on the 22 January 2013 with regard to the Prescribed Regulations and the Discretions for 2013/14 be noted;            

(b)       That the making of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme and Prescribed Requirements (Wales) Regulations, (“the Prescribed Requirement Regulations”) by the National Assembly for Wales on the 19 December 2012 be noted;

(c)        That the outcome of the consultation exercise undertaken by the Council on the introduction of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme, as set out at Appendix 2 of the report be noted;

(d)       That the written statement by the Minister for Local Government and Communities on the 17 January 2013 which sets out the intention to increase the maximum level of support from the current 90% to 100%, as shown at Appendix 1 of the report, be noted;

(e)       That the Prescribed Requirement Scheme as set out at Appendix 2 of the report be adopted, subject to any changes in prescribed limits set by Welsh Government and the consequential detail; and

(f)        That the proposed Discretionary Elements as set out at Appendix 2 of the report be adopted for 2013/14.