Issue - meetings

Report of Director of Service Delivery

Lead member: Councillor Zoe Nicholson

Recommended to Full Council (Budget and policy framework):

(1) To recommend to Full Council the revised LCTR Scheme for the working age for 2022/23, comprising the features proposed at paragraph 2.1 of the report.

(2) That the Exceptional Hardship Scheme continues in 2022/23.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Service Delivery, asking them to consider and then recommend to Full Council for adoption, a revised Local Council Tax Reduction scheme for 2022/23 and continuation of the existing Exceptional Hardship scheme.

Policy and Performance Advisory Committee (PPAC), held on 30 November 2021, considered the report and were supportive of the officer recommendations in full. Councillor Boorman, Vice-Chair of PPAC, was in attendance to present PPAC’s discussion. Visiting member and Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Linington addressed the Cabinet on the consultation that was undertaken and commented on the opposing views received from the major precepting organisations.

A statutory consultation took place on 2 August to 31 October over proposals to increase the maximum reduction to 100%, remove the minimum awards so a claimant can qualify for, and be awarded, less than £5 per week and to base a self-employed claimant’s income on their actual earnings. Full details of this consultation were detailed in the report and contained at Appendix 2 to the report.

In reaching their decision, Cabinet gave due regard to all the responses received from the consultation, including from the major precepting organisations, East Sussex County Council, Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner and East Sussex Fire and Rescue, who had confirmed that they could not support the proposals contained in the report.

Recommended to Full Council (Budget and policy framework):

(1) To recommend to Full Council the revised LCTR Scheme for the working age for 2022/23, comprising the features proposed at paragraph 2.1 of the report.

(2) That the Exceptional Hardship Scheme continues in 2022/23.

Reasons for decisions:

(1) The proposed changes provide more financial support to some of the most financially challenged residents and supports the Corporate goal of ‘A fairer council tax for those on lowest incomes’.

(2) The Exceptional Hardship Scheme provides additional support to those who are in receipt of a Council Tax Reduction but are suffering exceptional hardship.