Issue - meetings

Report of Councillor Bannister on behalf of the Cabinet.

This matter was proposed by Councillor Bannister on behalf of the Cabinet and seconded by Councillor Elkin.

Resolved: That the 2014/15 Local Council Tax Reduction scheme, with the minor amendments referred to in the report to Cabinet at its meeting on 22 October 2014, be adopted as the 2015/16 scheme.

Report of Senior Head of Community

Lead cabinet member:  Councillor Margaret Bannister

That full council be recommended to adopt the 2014/15 local council tax reduction scheme, with the minor amendments referred to in the report and summarised above, as the 2015/16 scheme.

36.1 Cabinet considered the report of the senior head of community.  The coalition government abolished the national council tax benefit scheme and required local authorities to introduce local schemes of support from April 2013.  The council was under a duty to review its local scheme each year and any changes to the scheme must be adopted by 31 January preceding the start of the new financial year. 

36.2 The current scheme, which was also adopted by the other East Sussex districts and boroughs, followed the principles of protecting the most vulnerable, incentivising individuals into work and took into account and responds to the requirement of government to reduce the cost by 10% of the previous council tax benefit scheme.  Key features of the adopted were the removal of the second adult rebate, a minimum award of £5 per week, and a reasonable increase in non-dependant deductions.

36.3 It was recommended that the current 2014/15 scheme, appended to the report as appendix A, with the minor amendments outlined in appendix B, be adopted as the 2015/16 scheme.

* 36.4 Resolved (budget and policy framework):  That full council be recommended to adopt the 2014/15 local council tax reduction scheme, with the minor amendments referred to in the report and summarised above, as the 2015/16 scheme.