Decision details

The Revenues Team Manager reminded Members that changes were made to the Council Tax Support Scheme in 2015, and minor amendments were agreed for 2016/17.  The data available showed that it had been effective and that the collection rate for Council Tax Support claimants last year was just over 72%.  

In view of this it would therefore seem appropriate to continue to embed the current scheme with both staff and council tax support claimants for at least a further year taking this scheme through to 2018.

Pensioners were protected by Government which meant ‘local schemes’ must give the same level of assistance to pensioners. West Lindsey District Council also made the decision since 2013/14 to protect those in receipt of a War Pension and those claimants receiving a Disability Benefit and the proposal was not to change this decision.

There were three options for consideration for the 2017/18 scheme set out in the report.  Option 1 was recommended for Committee approval, and proposed:

To make no change to the current scheme, adapted from the scheme applied to people of pension age, for another 12 months but to apply any new legislative requirements and the uprating of the non-dependent charges, applicable amounts and household allowances and deductions, used in the calculation of the reduction in accordance with the Department for Works and Pensions (DWP) annual up-ratings.

Option I was proposed and seconded and on being voted upon it was –

            RESOLVED that

a)    the report be noted; and

a)    the Local Council Tax Support Scheme for West Lindsey DC for 2017/18 as set out at Option 1 in the report, be agreed and recommended to Council for approval.