Issue details

Localised Council Tax Support Scheme 2015/16

Localised Council Tax Support was introduced in April 2013 as a replacement to Council Tax Benefit and as a requirement must be reviewed annually by the 31 January.

Decision type: Key

Reason Key: Revenue Budget variation +£250,000;

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Wards affected: (All Wards);

Notice of proposed decision first published: 05/11/2014

Decision due: 4 Dec 2014 by Council

Lead member: Mayor and Executive Lead for Employment and Regeneration, Finance and Audit

Lead director: Head of Financial Services

Contact: Linda Owen Email: linda.owen@torbay.gov.uk.

Consultation process

Not required as there are no changes proposed in the 2015/16 localised council tax scheme, other than annual uprating of applicable amounts and non dependant deductions as stated within the introduction of the scheme in April 2013.

Consultees

N/A

Reason for inclusion in Forward Plan: The government's localisation of support for council tax took place within a wider programme of Welfare Reform. The intention of the changes being to help move people back into work as well as making significant savings on the welfare reform bill.

Key Risks: An annual review of the localised council tax scheme is required to be in place by the 31 January 2015. Failure would result in an automatic default scheme becoming Torbay Council's Support scheme from April 2015 and would be detrimental to customers as the calculation for support would not be uprated to account for increases in daily living expenses.

If you want to make representations contact:: Linda Owen, Torbay Council, Town Hall, Castle Circus, Torquay, TQ1 3DR, telephone (01803) 207572, email linda.owen@torbay.gov.uk

Decisions

Agenda items