The Portfolio Holder for Finance presented the report which provided details of the proposed Council Tax Reduction (CTR) scheme for 2018/19, which was to be implemented with effect from 1 April 2018.

Members were asked to consider the main principles of the scheme in readiness for public consultation, and give delegated authority to the Chief Finance Officer and Finance Portfolio Holder to agree the final consultation materials. The Portfolio Holder for Finance advised that the meeting of the Finance Advisory Committee had been inquorate, but those members that had attended had been in agreement with the report.

The Chief Finance Officer explained that the introduction to the report set out the transition from Council Tax Benefit to Council Tax Reduction.  The report highlighted that pensioners were still protected from any reduction in support but working-age claimants were not.

The Chief Finance Officer explained the current scheme and the proposal to amend it.  He set out the key components of current scheme (the working-age element only).  It was explained that it was proposed to amend the Minimum Income Floor to protect disabled people and that individuals would be exempt if in receipt of the Personal Independence Payment (standard or enhanced rate of daily living component), Disability Living Allowance (middle or high rate of care component) or the Armed Forces Independence Payment.  The proposal would positively affect three cases with an increase in the cost of scheme estimated to be £2,100.  The Council share of that sum would be approximately £250.

Public Sector Equality Duty

Members noted that consideration had been given to impacts under the Public Sector Equality Duty.

Resolved:  That

a)     consultation on the Council Tax Reduction (CTR) scheme for 2018/19 take place based on the current CTR scheme with the amendment to the conditions applied to the Minimum Income Floor in that self-employed applicants and/or their self-employed partner be made exempt from the Minimum Income Floor if they are in receipt of the Personal Independence Payment (standard or enhanced rate of the daily living component) or Disability Living Allowance (middle or high rate of the care component) or Armed Forces Independence Payment; and

b)     authority be delegated to the Chief Finance Officer in conjunction with the Finance Portfolio Holder, to agree the consultation material.