Decision details

1          That a further reduction of up to £25 to Council Tax bills for eligible pensioner households receiving council tax support be funded from the discretionary part of the Council Tax Support Fund, at an estimated cost of £17,400; and,

2          That the remaining funding, estimated at £9,000 be used to supplement the Council’s existing £10,000 Council Tax hardship fund, administered by the Welfare and Benefits team.

To ensure that the Council makes maximum use of the Council Tax Support Fund to support economically vulnerable households in the Borough.

To offer discounts of less than £25 to eligible households, which is permitted under the scheme.  However, this would significantly erode its intended impact and has therefore been discounted.

To invite households to bid for the funding remaining after the Government’s expectation of it being used to provide £25 discounts to council tax support claimants has been fulfilled.  This has been discounted due to the administrative complexity that such an approach would introduce, which would be disproportionate to the relatively small amount of funding available.

To provide further discounts to all council tax support households, both working age and pensioners.  This is not recommended due to the Council having agreed its own local £75 Council Tax discount for working age claimant households.

To use all the remaining funding to provide the highest possible discounts to pensioner households, which would be up to a maximum of £73.  This has been discounted, recognising that there is a wide range of alternative financial support available to low income pensioner households which is not the case for other households experiencing financial hardship who could be eligible for support through the Council’s Council Tax Hardship Support fund, which currently has a limited budget of £10k.

None.