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Lewes and Eastbourne
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Issue - meetings

Local council tax reduction scheme

Meeting: 28/10/2019 - Lewes District Council Cabinet (Item 39)

39 Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme and Council Tax Class C Discount pdf icon PDF 92 KB

Report of Director of Service Delivery

Lead Cabinet member: Councillor Zoe Nicholson

Decision:

Recommended to Council (Budget and policy framework):

 

(1) To recommend to Full Council that the 2019/20 Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme be adopted as the 2020/21 scheme.

 

(2) To recommend to Full Council that the Council Tax Class C Discount for empty and unfurnished properties be ended from 1 April 2020.

 

(Key decision)

 

(3) To establish a pilot scheme during 2020/21 to provide additional relief to the self-employed on very low income.

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Service Delivery regarding the Local Council Tax Reduction (CTR) Scheme 2020/21 and Council Tax Class C Discount.

 

It was clarified that the removal of the discount would raise an estimated £28,000 for the Council. The additional monies would be used to support those self-employed CTR claimants who were affected by the application of the minimum-income floor. Further details were contained in the report.

 

In response to points raised by visiting member, Councillor Linington, it was clarified that officers would be undertaking significant checks to ensure the scheme would not be exploited.

 

Ms Debbie Twitchen, Tenants Representative addressed the Cabinet in support of the recommendations.

 

The Cabinet welcomed the pilot scheme that would give more assistance to the most vulnerable residents.

 

Recommended to Council (Budget and policy framework):

 

(1) To recommend to Full Council that the 2019/20 Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme be adopted as the 2020/21 scheme.

 

(2) To recommend to Full Council that the Council Tax Class C Discount for empty and unfurnished properties be ended from 1 April 2020.

 

(Key decision):

 

(3) To establish a pilot scheme during 2020/21 to provide additional relief to the self-employed on very low income.

 

Reasons for decisions:

 

(1) Ending the Class C discount would encourage property owners to try to avoid having properties that are not occupied.

 

(2) The additional monies raised would be used to support those self-employed CTR claimants who were affected by the application of the minimum income floor and during the year of 2020/21 assess the likely impact on the council tax base of removal of minimum income floor.