Issue - meetings

Council Tax Reduction Scheme 19/20

Meeting: 24/01/2019 - Council (Item 86)

86 Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2019/2020 pdf icon PDF 106 KB

To adopt a Localised Council Tax Reduction Scheme which will ensure that all working age Borough residents who may experience financial difficulties in paying their council tax liabilities have access to a scheme of assistance, designed locally, offering financial help to them.

 

RECOMMENDATION:

That the Council agree the proposed Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2019/20 as set out in the report.

 

Minutes:

The Council considered a report on the Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2019/2020 as set out in Agenda pages 5 to 9.

 

It was proposed by Anthony Pollock and seconded by Parry Batth that the recommendation contained in the report be approved.

 

Lindsay Ferris stated that he had concerns about the proposals.  Whilst he understood the approach taken he felt that the scheme was too punitive on some of the Borough’s poorest residents.  He asked that, in future, details of how many residents had problems in paying during the coming financial year, be provided.

 

Andy Croy emphasised that the Council should be protecting its most vulnerable residents.  He stressed that individuals in receipt of child maintenance income would now see a third of that taken into account and their Council Tax reduction reduced.  He believed that the scheme should be amended.

 

Rachel Burgess stated that she believed child maintenance income should not be included as income for the purposes of calculating Council Tax support.

 

Carl Doran also emphasised the potential impact of the scheme on some of the Borough’s most vulnerable residents.

 

Prior to a vote being held, six Members, in accordance with Rule of Procedure 4.2.15.5, requested that a recorded vote be taken on the proposed Motion. 

 

The voting was as follows:

 

For

Against

Abstained

Keith Baker

Prue Bray

John Kaiser

Parry Batth

Rachel Burgess

Bill Soane

Laura Blumenthal

Gary Cowan

 

Chris Bowring

Andy Croy

 

David Chopping

Carl Doran

 

John Halsall

Lindsay Ferris

 

Pauline Helliar Symons

Clive Jones

 

Emma Hobbs

Imogen Shepherd-DuBey

 

Philip Houldsworth

Rachelle Shepherd-DuBey

 

Norman Jorgensen

 

 

Pauline Jorgensen

 

 

Dianne King

 

 

Abdul Loyes

 

 

Charles Margetts

 

 

Julian McGhee Sumner

 

 

Ken Miall

 

 

Philip Mirfin

 

 

Stuart Munro

 

 

Anthony Pollock

 

 

Malcolm Richards

 

 

Angus Ross

 

 

Daniel Sargeant

 

 

David Sleight

 

 

Chris Smith

 

 

Wayne Smith

 

 

Simon Weeks

 

 

Shahid Younis

 

 

 

Upon being put to the vote, the Motion was declared by the Mayor to have been carried.

 

RESOLVED:  That the proposed Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2019/2020 be approved.