Agenda item
Proposed Local Council Tax Support Scheme for 2013/14
This report sets out:
A recommended local Council Tax Support Scheme for 2014/15 based upon the experience from the first year of the local scheme, the outcomes from this year’s consultation process and continuing to achieve a financially neutral position.
The findings of the consultation process which took place between 11 November 2013 and 13 December 2013.
The financial and equality impacts of the recommended revised local Council Tax Support scheme for Brent residents.
Appendix A – Equalities Impact Assessment to follow.
Minutes:
Councillor Lorber moved a suspension of standing orders to allow officers to introduce the report given its complexity, length and the fact that councillors had not previously had the chance to ask questions on it. This was put to the vote and declared LOST.
The Mayor made it clear that officers were present in the room who could answer questions on the report if this was felt to be necessary.
Councillor Butt introduced the report by referring back to the decision of the Council in December 2012 to adopt a two year scheme which nevertheless had to be put before Full Council each year. The scheme had met its objectives in the first year and the opportunity was now being taken to introduce an amendment to the scheme that would have the effect of protecting more people from having to pay Council Tax. Consultation had been carried out in November and December 2013 and all the responses received had been addressed as set out in the report. He pointed out that one proposal put forward by Brent Housing Action would have cost the Council £3.6M which made it unviable.
Councillor Lorber asked if it was correct that none of the contingency sum of £800,000 built into the scheme had so far been required. In reply it was explained that the scheme was intend as a two year scheme and costed accordingly to take account of the growth in claim numbers that might be experienced in both the first and second years.
At 8:10pm the Mayor adjourned the meeting due to the continuing disruption caused to the meeting by members of the public.
After a delay of 15 minutes, the Mayor announced that the meeting would be reconvened in the Grand Hall thereby allowing the removal of the disruptive members of the public from the Civic Centre.
At 8:55 the meeting reconvened.
Procedural motion
RESOLVED:
that standing order 47(f) relating to the seating arrangements be suspended for the remainder of the meeting.
Discussion on the proposed local Council Tax support scheme for 2014/15 continued.
Councillor Kansagra referred to the motion he would later move under summons item 9. He stated that the Council could have absorbed the costs of reducing charges imposed on the poorest residents and was using the cuts to local government funding as an excuse. A view was submitted that the Council should support incentives to work and any benefits from surplus monies should be given back to residents. Councillor Lorber moved an amendment to the scheme. He argued that one year ago the figures used to create the scheme had been questioned and it could now been seen that the scheme had been tougher on people than it needed to be. He wanted to see the savings level remain at £16,000, those genuinely seeking work given 12 months grace and the minimum contribution rate set at 15%. The resulting costs would be met by the difference in the budget not being put into reserves. In response Councillor Butt pointed out that the new arrangements had been introduced by the Government and the impact on local residents was set out in the report. The scheme sought to minimise the impact and the proposal was to amend the scheme to increase the number of people exempt from paying. Government action had assured that local government would shoulder an excessive burden by protecting certain groups and reducing funding by 10%.
The amendment proposed by Councillor Lorber were put to the vote and declared LOST.
RESOLVED:
(i) that the recommended Council Tax Support Scheme for 2014/15 as set out in Appendix B to the report be approved and the making of the scheme and its implementation be authorised;
(ii) that the applicable amounts, allowances and non-dependant deductions (not relating to pensioners) remain unchanged from the 2013/14 scheme;
(iii) that the findings of the Equalities Impact Assessment in relation to the recommended scheme as set out in Appendix A of the report be noted.
Councillor Brown wished his assent for the amendment to be recorded.
Supporting documents:
- CT rpt, item 7. PDF 163 KB
- app-ct-support-scheme-2014, item 7. PDF 1 MB
- ctax-app-a1, item 7. PDF 356 KB
- ctax-app-a2, item 7. PDF 1 MB
- ctax-app-a3, item 7. PDF 119 KB