Issue - meetings

The Chairman of the Corporate Policy and Resources Committee presented the report to Council, which sought approval of the Council Tax Support Scheme for 2025/26, on recommendation from the Corporate Policy Resources Committee.

Members noted that the scheme had not been amended significantly since 2019/20 due to the implementation of Universal Credit, the Covid pandemic and cost of living crisis. 

Data available showed that the Scheme had been an effective one and that the collection rate for last year had been 97.8% which was top quartile performance.

Given the ongoing cost of living crisis, if any significant changes were to be made to the scheme for 2025/26 it was probable that it would have a negative impact on the collection rate as residents struggled to make payments.

As such the Corporate Policy and Resources Committee had considered the report and had recommended to Full Council that Option 1 be implemented.

The recommendation was duly moved and seconded and on being put to the vote it was

RESOLVED that the Recommendation from the Corporate Policy and Resources Committee be accepted and Option 1 of the report, be adopted as the Local Council Tax Support Scheme for West Lindsey District Council for 2025/26. That being: -

To make no changes to the current council tax support scheme apart from to apply any new legislative requirements and the uprating of the non-dependant 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 upratings.

To also apply any additional changes to government welfare benefit regulations during the year which are intended to increase the income of benefit recipients to avoid unintended consequences to customers.

To accept a Full Universal Credit claim received via the Department for Work and Pensions as a claim for Council Tax Support.