Cllr. Fleming proposed and Cllr. Ramsey seconded that (a) That the Council consult with its community on the proposal to reduce the council tax support payable to working age claimants by a standard percentage amount that delivers a local support for council tax scheme within the funding provided by Government; and (b)       Members approve the principles of broad-based consultation and delegate authority to the Leader of the Council and the Portfolio Holder for Value for Money to approve the information and questions provide to the community within the consultation questionnaire.

Cllr. Fittock proposed and Cllr. Underwood seconded the following amendment to the motion:

That the following be added as point c):

c) that this Council explains how it will provide support for the most vulnerable families and how the proposal will lift people off benefit and support them into work.

Cllr. Fittock noted that paragraph 12 of the report outlined that the two underlying principles behind the localisation of council tax benefit were that 1) Localised schemes should provide support for the most vulnerable, including vulnerable pensioners; and 2) Localised schemes should assist with lifting the poorest off benefits and supporting them into work.  These were the two basic principles that had to be worked to however, there was nothing in the report to explain how this support would be provided.

Cllr. Fleming responded that these issues would be covered in the proposed consultation.  The only groups specifically covered within the legislation were elderly vulnerable groups.  The District Council needed to ensure that a sustainable scheme was developed for the future.  It was inevitable that some groups would fall outside of the support that would be available in the future as there would not be enough funding.

Following a vote, the amendment was LOST.

Members returned to debating the original motion, following a vote it was

Resolved: That

a)     the Council consult with its community on the proposal to reduce the council tax support payable to working age claimants by a standard percentage amount that delivers a local support for council tax scheme within the funding provided by Government; and

b)     the principles of broad-based consultation be approved and that authority be delegated to the Leader of the Council and the Portfolio Holder for Value for Money to approve the information and questions provide to the community within the consultation questionnaire.