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Issue - meetings

Council Tax Support Scheme 2026/2027

 

 

Meeting: 26/11/2025 - Council (Item 10.)

10. Council Tax Support Scheme 2026/2027 pdf icon PDF 540 KB

Purpose

To consider the revised Council Tax Support Scheme for the financial year 2026/27.

 

Recommendation(s):

Cabinet recommends that Full Council resolves 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 2026.

2.    Agree that any balance remaining in the earmarked reserve ‘Hardship Fund’ be made available in 2026/27 financial year for reasons detailed in paragraphs 3.6 and 3.7 of this report.

Additional documents:

Meeting: 16/10/2025 - Cabinet (Item 142)

142 Council Tax Support Scheme 2026/2027 pdf icon PDF 691 KB

Purpose:

To consider and recommend to Full Council the revised Council Tax Support Scheme for the financial year 2026/2027.

 

Recommendations:

That Cabinet recommends 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 2026. Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive and Section 151 Officer, in Consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, to amend the income bands by the September 2025 CPI rate due to be published on 22 October 2025, should this be different to the assumed increase set out in the report and annex A.
  2. Agree that any balance remaining in the earmarked reserve ‘Hardship Fund’ be made available in 2026/27 financial year for reasons detailed in paragraphs 3.6 and 3.7 of this report.

Additional documents:

Decision:

The purpose of the report was to ask Cabinet to consider and recommend to Full Council the revised Council Tax Support Scheme for the financial year 2026/2027.

 

Councillor Patrick Coleman, Cabinet Member for Finance, introduced the report.

Councillor Coleman suggested that the recommendation for delegation be a separate point, the original two recommendations were split into three, no further amendments made.

The resulting three recommendations were proposed by Councillor Patrick Coleman and seconded by Councillor Mike Evemy. 

 

RESOLVED that Cabinet recommend to 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 2026.

2.    Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive and Section 151 Officer, in Consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, to amend the income bands by the September 2025 CPI rate due to be published on 22 October 2025, should this be different to the assumed increase set out in the report and annex A.

3.    Agree that any balance remaining in the earmarked reserve ‘Hardship Fund’ be made available in 2026/27 financial year for reasons detailed in paragraphs 3.6 and 3.7 of the report.

 

Voting Record:

7 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstentions

Minutes:

The purpose of the report was to ask Cabinet to consider and recommend to Full Council the revised Council Tax Support Scheme for the financial year 2026/2027.

 

Councillor Patrick Coleman, Cabinet Member for Finance, introduced the report and noted that the scheme continued the principles established under the current administration over six years ago. He highlighted that, unlike previous approaches which sought to reduce support, the Council now operated one of the most generous and equitable schemes in the country. He emphasised the particular challenges faced by low-income households in rural areas, such as limited public transport and distance from key services, and thanked officers for their detailed work in developing the proposals.

 

Strong support was expressed by members, who stated that maintaining such support schemes during difficult financial times was essential to protecting vulnerable residents and addressing hidden hardship within the district.

 

Councillor Evemy commended the Council for sustaining full relief for residents on the lowest incomes and avoiding the pursuit of small arrears. He also noted the scheme’s recognition of larger families through higher levels of support, aligning with the Council’s commitment to tackling child poverty.

 

Councillor Coleman suggested that the recommendation for delegation be a separate point, the original two recommendations were split into three, no further amendments were made.

The resulting three recommendations were proposed by Councillor Patrick Coleman, seconded by Councillor Mike Evemy and subsequently put to the vote.

 

Voting Record:

7 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstentions.

 

 

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