Issue - meetings

To consider the report regarding the Local Council Tax Support Scheme 2022/23.

RESOLVED to recommend that Council approve the Local Council Tax Support Scheme for 2022/23 are set on the same basis as 2021/22:

I.  The contribution rate is frozen for the eight consecutive year at 12.5%.

II. The Council continues to protect Vulnerable and Disabled Residents and Carer’s on a low income.

Councillor Hargreaves presented the report, which stated that there was a requirement to annually review the Local Council Tax Support (LCTS) Scheme and propose changes to the scheme for the following financial year. A consultation has been carried out during the summer on the scheme proposals to retain the contribution rate at 12.5%, which had been in place since 2014/15, and to continue to protect Vulnerable and Disabled residents and Carer’s on a low income. He said it had been encouraging to read consultation responses thanking the council for the Scheme. He also highlighted the Exceptional Hardship Fund, which was available to support residents and claimants who were suffering financial hardship. This Fund could be applied for by those who did not meet the criteria for the LCTS Scheme but were still in need of financial support. He proposed the recommendation setout in the report.

Councillor Gregory said it was an excellent paper but more could still be done. He was disappointed that, in such exceptional circumstances, more was not being done to support residents. He said means tested support mechanisms, such as the Exceptional Hardship Fund, conventionally attracted fewer applicants and he was disappointed that more radical measures had not been implemented.

Councillor Hargreaves said the exceptional Hardship fund was a flexible support mechanism that supplemented the LCTS Scheme, and that it was useful to have an additional instrument to support residents in need. However, he noted the comments and said it could be looked at in future years.

Councillor Reeve seconded the recommendation.

RESOLVED to recommend that Council approve the Local Council Tax Support Scheme for 2022/23 are set on the same basis as 2021/22:

I.  The contribution rate is frozen for the eight consecutive year at 12.5%.

II. The Council continues to protect Vulnerable and Disabled Residents and Carer’s on a low income.