Issue - meetings

Council Tax Support Scheme for 2025/2026

Purpose

To consider and approve the revised Council Tax Support Scheme for the financial year 2025/2026.

Recommendations

That Full Council resolves to:

1. Approve the increase to income bands as detailed within paragraphs 3.2, 3.3 and Annex A of this report from 1 April 2025.

2. Agree that any surplus in the Hardship Fund is transferred over to 2025/2026 for reasons detailed in paragraphs 3.6 and 3.7 of this report

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The purpose of the report was to consider and approve the revised Council Tax Support Scheme for the financial year 2025/2026.

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Transformation, Councillor Evemy, introduced the report.

· The scheme is brought in advance of the Budget so that the calculations for the Council Tax for the new financial year

· Council Tax Support was important for many of the most vulnerable in communities

· The Cost of living was continuing pressure on those on lower incomes and the bands for Council Tax Support need to keep pace with increasing costs. The proposals would see bands increased by 4% in order to keep the real terms value of the support.

· The Council residents in receipt of Council Tax Support have a benefit of £5 million, but the support is vital for those residents on the lowest of incomes.

· The amount of support is based on their income and the family composition in order to target support effectively.

· An estimated increase of £28,000 of increased support of which £2,000 would come from the Council and the rest would come from the County Council and the Police and Crime Commissioner.

· The Hardship Fund provides for those residents in exceptional circumstances outside of the Council Tax Support Scheme with an estimated £33,000 remaining which was recommended to be carried over.

· The Council had consulted on this and Citizens Advice Bureau had been engaged in the consultation on the scheme to provide valuable advice.

Councillor Bloomer reserved their right as the seconder.

It was noted how important the scheme was to vulnerable residents in the District any help provided was welcomed.

There was a question regarding the caseload and if there was a financial limit on support. It was highlighted that the scheme sets out the criteria and the support residents were entitled to. If a significant increase was seen, this would have to be revised to check on the level of support for the following year. However the benefit to those most vulnerable residents outweighed any costs or little money which would be received from those being billed.

The Chair asked about care leavers given the difficult circumstances, and was there any specific support for them. Councillor Evemy’s concurred with the comments regarding care leavers but the understanding was there were not part of this scheme as these were income dependent. The Business Manager noted that the Council does have a discount scheme for carers up to the age of 25 through Gloucestershire County Council referrals.

There was a question on the impact of literature from the Council about the cost of living, and if there was a way to measure this. There was also a question regarding a specific case of the Council asking individuals to repay an overpayment of housing benefit and if discretionary housing payment was available to alleviate the pressure. Councillor Evemy noted one leaflet would be hard to measure in terms of the impact but this was important to make sure ... view the full minutes text for item 54

Meeting: 07/11/2024 - Cabinet (Item 23)

Webcast for 07/11/2024 - Cabinet

23 Council Tax Support Scheme 2025/2026 PDF 273 KB

Purpose

To consider and recommend to Full Council the revised Council Tax Support Scheme for the financial year 2025/2026.

Recommendations

That Cabinet recommends to Full Council:

The increase to income bands as detailed within paragraphs 3.2, 3.3 and Annex A of this report from 1 April 2025.
That any surplus in the Hardship Fund is transferred over to 2025/2026 for reasons detailed in paragraphs 3.6 and 3.7 of this report.

Additional documents:

Decision:

The purpose of the item was to consider and recommend to Full Council the revised Council Tax Support Scheme for the financial year 2025/2026.

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance introduced the item.

The recommendations were proposed by the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and seconded by the Leader.

RESOLVED: That Cabinet RECOMMENDED to Full Council to:

1. AGREE the increase to income bands as detailed within paragraphs 3.2, 3.3 and Annex A of this report from 1 April 2025.

2. AGREE that any surplus in the Hardship Fund to be transferred over to 2025/2026 for reasons detailed in paragraphs 3.6 and 3.7 of the report.

Minutes:

The purpose of the item was to consider and recommend to Full Council the revised Council Tax Support Scheme for the financial year 2025/2026.

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Councillor Mike Evemy, introduced the item to Cabinet and made the following points:

The report provided the annual review of the Council Tax support scheme alongside the proposals for the scheme for 2025/26 that would be approved by Full Council.
The key elements would be the focus on the cost of living and the rise in incomes which would determine the support for the poorest
Table 3.3 highlighted the income bands the Council uses alongside personal circumstances which would determine the support provided and determine the final amount of Council Tax owed by a resident.
The Council’s scheme was generous to support those on the lowest incomes who were not in a position to pay the full amount. For Band 1 incomes, that may result in entitlement to 100% relief for Council Tax Support, and this then tapers downwards for higher incomes.
Para 4.1 highlighted the scale of the Council Tax Support Scheme with an approximate spend of £4.9 million shared across the precepting authorities.
The proposals would see a 4% increase to the bands from the previous year.
The Hardship Fund would be continued to support residents outside of the support scheme under exceptional circumstances. £33,000 of the fund was remaining which was recommended to be carried over in to 2025/26.

There was a question regarding how generous the Council is compared to other local authorities. It was noted that in comparison with other local authorities, the scheme was extremely generous given that not all councils provide 100% relief.

It was asked whether there was any penalty for residents who claim for Council Tax Support but are then deemed not eligible. The Business Manager for Environmental, Welfare and Revenue Service confirmed there was no penalty for claiming Council Tax support if they were deemed not eligible, and any change of income in the future may mean they are not eligible.

It was noted that some residents may not be able to access online services and Members asked whether there was any support for them. The Business Manager confirmed there was a Client Support Officer to help those specific residents at the office or at their home.

Councillor Joe Harris formally seconded and made the following points:

The Council was generous with its support scheme, and the refresh reaffirmed its commitment to the cost of living issues.
There was a determination to provide support within the resources of the Council.
Residents were encouraged to put in an application and the scheme was means tested.

Councillor Evemy was then invited to sum up:

It was important to note that the bands increase was allowing for pay rises to protect the real terms value of the support given.
Partners in Citizens Advice Bureau had provided advice on the setting of the scheme.

The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Evemy ... view the full minutes text for item 23

Issue - meetings

Council Tax Support Scheme for 2025/2026

Meeting: 27/11/2024 - Council (Item 54)

Meeting: 07/11/2024 - Cabinet (Item 23)

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