Agenda item

At the discretion of the Mayor to consider any urgent business, in accordance with Standing Order 30(s).

In accordance with the provisions outlined above it has been agreed to receive the following as an urgent item at this meeting:

12.1Council Tax Reduction Scheme Amendment for 2022/23 – Energy Rebate Grant

This report seeks approval to make the required changes to the Council’s Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2022/23 as prescribed by central government.  This follows the announcement on 3 February 2022 regarding Energy Bill Rebates, which included provision for most properties in Council Tax Bands A to D to receive a £150 rebate payment.  Only Full Council has the power to make or amend the Council’s Council Tax Reduction Scheme.

The reasons for urgency are as detailed within section 1.2 of the attached report.

(Agenda republished to include this item on 18 February 2022)

In accordance with Standing Order 30(s) Council were advised that the Mayor had agreed to deal with the following as an urgent item on the grounds that there was a requirement for the Council to amend its Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2022/23 in order take account of the Energy Rebate Scheme as prescribed by the Government.

12.1Council Tax Reduction Scheme Amendment for 2022/23 – Energy Rebate Grant

Council RESOLVED:

(1)     To approve the amended Council Tax Reduction Scheme for the 2022/23 financial year as set out in Appendix A to the report to take effect from 1 April 2022.

(2)     To note that the change to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme for the 2022/23 as prescribed by central government was as follows:

(a)    any payment made under the Energy Rebate Scheme 2022 is to be disregarded in determining:

(i)     an applicant’s entitlement to a reduction under the scheme; or

(ii)     the amount of any reduction under the scheme.

(3)     To note that the Energy Rebate of £150 would be paid whether or not a resident was in receipt of Council Tax Support.

In accordance with Standing Order 30(s) the Mayor advised Council that she had agreed to deal with the following as an urgent item of business on the grounds that the Government, as of 12 February 2022, had required Council’s to amend their Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2022-2023 in order take account and make provision for introduction of the Energy Rebate Scheme.

15.1  Council Tax Reduction Scheme Amendment for 2022/23 – Energy Rebate Grant

Councillor Southwood, Cabinet Member for Housing & Welfare Reform, was then invited to introduce the report from the Strategic Director of Customer & Digital Services outlining the required changes to Brent’s Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2022-23, as prescribed by Government.

In introducing the report Councillor Southwood advised that the amendments being sought to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme had been required as a result of the introduction of the Government’s Energy Bill Rebate Scheme, which had included provision for most properties in Council Tax Bands A to D to receive a £150 rebate payment.  The amendment being sought required the Energy Rebate payment to be disregarded as income from the scheme as it applied to both residents of working and pension age.  Whilst the amendment related to the Council Tax Support Scheme, which only Full Council had the power to make or amend, members were advised that the rebate payment would still be made whether or not a resident was in receipt of Council Tax Support.  In addition, the Rebate Scheme had also made provision for local authorities to create a discretionary scheme to support other properties in Council Tax Bands E to H, which Councillor Southwood advised would be subject to separate consideration and approval in due course.

As no members indicated they wished to speak, the Mayor then put the recommendations in the report to the vote and they were unanimously declared CARRIED.

Having been accepted as an urgent item, Council therefore RESOLVED:

(1)     To approve the amended Council Tax Reduction Scheme for the 2022/23 financial year as set out in Appendix A to the report to take effect from 1 April 2022.

(2)     To note that the change to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme for the 2022/23 as prescribed by central government was as follows:

(a)     any payment made under the Energy Rebate Scheme 2022 is to be disregarded in determining:

(i)      an applicant’s entitlement to a reduction under the scheme; or

(ii)     the amount of any reduction under the scheme.

(3)     To note that the Energy Rebate of £150 would be paid whether or not a resident was in receipt of Council Tax Support.

The Mayor advised Members there were no other urgent items of business for consideration.

As this was her final Council business meeting as Mayor, Councillor Colacicco ended proceedings by taking the opportunity to thank members for their support and cooperation throughout her time as Mayor, particularly over what had been yet another challenging period for the borough.  Members were reminded that the next Full Council meeting would now fall after the local elections, with the Annual Council Meeting having been scheduled for Wednesday 18 May 2002. The Mayor formally closed proceedings by once again thanking and wishing those members not standing in the local elections all the best for the future.