Agenda item

To consider an update to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme

The Committee considered a report, set out in agenda pages 5 to 18, which set out proposed changes to the Council Tax reduction scheme.

The report outlined the results of the public consultation which ran from 30^th September to 11^th November. In addition, the report gave details of the proposed change to the 2021/22 scheme, which would seek to disregard the total value of any carer’s allowance as opposed to the previously disregarded value of £46.35 per week. Overall, this would equate to an approximate positive change for claimants of £6,059 per annum total between all eligible claimants.

John Kaiser (Executive Member for Finance and Housing), Graham Ebers (Deputy Chief Executive – Director of Resources & Assets), Simon Price (Assistant Director Neighbourhoods and Communities) and Nicky Thomas (Senior Specialist – Assessments) attended the meeting to answer Member questions.

During the ensuing discussions, Members raised the following points and queries:

·           How had Covid-19 (C-19) changed the responses received to the consultation compared to previous years? Officer response – Officers had noted an enhanced level of responses this year, partly due to the consultation being sent out to the wider charitable sector.

·           Would more people be eligible under the scheme this coming year due to C-19 and potential lost jobs? Officer response – Officers were always nervous when major Government schemes, such as the furlough scheme, were due to come to an end. There had been a notable increase in Universal Credit applications, which could lead to increased demand on the Council Tax reduction scheme.

·           A number of Members were reassured by comments made by John Kaiser, whereby he stated that this was a statutory scheme and if additional funding was required then it would be provided to meet the costs of the scheme. Graham Ebers added that there were a variety of variables and risks associated with Council tax, and this statutory scheme was just one part of a significant and complex strategy. Graham added that the best way to guard against unforeseen demand and costs was to ensure safe general fund balances.

·           How many people were currently using the Council Tax reduction scheme? Officer response – Approximately 3896 people were using the scheme at present.

·           Considering nearly 4000 people were using the scheme, some Members found it disappointing that only 109 of those persons responded to the consultation. What additional outreach was being considered to engage with more of these persons in future? Officer response – The consultation had been advertised and sent to all voluntary sector partners this time around. Officers would take away these comments and look to try and extend the reach of the consultation in future, perhaps by working with the Department for Work and Pensions to increase engagement with persons using the scheme.

·           It was noted that many people may not have understood the first question within the consultation. Officers stated that they would take this comment on board.

·           As some people may get embarrassed responding to such a survey, would officers seek to word the consultation very carefully next year? Officer response – This was definitely the plan, and a review of the consolation was already scheduled for next year.

·           Did foster carers pay Council Tax? Officer response – This was Council Tax related rather than Council Tax reduction related, and it depended on whether they had a specific exemption to the general Council Tax policy.

·           The Committee reiterated their desire for more service users to be engaged with the consultation from next year. Officers stated that they would take this on board and thoroughly review next year.

RESOLVED That:

1)     John Kaiser, Graham Ebers, Simon Price and Nicky Thomas be thanked for attending the Committee;

2)     Officers would look to increase engagement with service users during the 2021/22 consultation, possibly by working more closely with the Department for Work and Pensions;

3)     Officers review the wording of consultation question 1 as part of the scheduled review of the consultation;

4)     Officers review the wording and phrasing of the entire consultation as part of the scheduled review of the consultation, as so to make respondents as comfortable as possible.