Decision details

To establish, consult on & approve a local scheme, including:

1. Initial consideration of options & approach to consultation

2. Respond to consultation & amend scheme

3. Final Scheme approval

(1)        That a general principle of Local Council Tax Support being cost neutral for the Council be agreed;

(2)        That the following elements of the scheme be approved for consultation purposes:

(a)        protection for pension age claimants to ensure their Council Tax support under the new scheme would not be less than the Council Tax Benefit currently being received; and

(b)        the amount of support to working age households be reduced by the principles of the Essex-wide framework and the following local measures:

(i)         the calculation of support to be based on 80% of the Council Tax bill rather than 100% as at present;

(ii)        the calculation of support to be based on a maximum of a band ‘D’ property;

(iii)       the inclusion of child maintenance in the calculation with a disregard of £15 per week per family;

(iv)       a reduction in the period of backdating (with good cause) from the current six months to three months; and

(v)        the introduction of an exceptional hardship scheme to support those people for whom their increased Council tax liability arising from their individual circumstances was causing exceptional difficulty;

(3)        That the following potential options for incorporation in the scheme be included as part of the consultation process:

(a)        a flat rate non-dependent deduction be included in the calculation instead of the varying rates currently used to calculate Council Tax Benefit;

(b)        the inclusion of Child Benefit in the calculation of support;

(c)        a minimum award of £1 per week to reduce administration costs; and

(d)        protection from a reduction in support for certain groups such as the disabled or families with children under five years of age;

(4)        That the Council’s participation in the six week county-wide consultation exercise, commencing on 1 August 2012, be agreed; and

(5)        That the Chairman of Council be requested to waive the call in arrangements for this decision due to its urgency as any delay would prejudice the Council’s interest.