Issue - meetings

Report of the Cabinet Member Finance

The Cabinet Member Finance introduced the report and explained that up to April 2013 council tax benefit was fully funded by government. In April that year Government provided the council with 90% but this council maintained the full 100% funding with the 10% shortfall funded by reducing council tax benefits on empty properties.

In 2014/15 the Government stopped separately identifying their contribution and this council continued to support those residents that were on low working incomes or retired on low pensions.

The Cabinet Member Finance explained that the wider introduction of universal credit would impact on how council tax support could be sustained and it maybe necessary to consider an alternative scheme for future years. She reported that during 18/19 some modelling work would be done and consultation undertaken to inform any changes that may be proposed to change the scheme and in any case from 2019/20 the council would no longer receive its revenue support grant from central government, but woudl be reliant upon council tax and business rates revenue. 

Finally, the Cabinet Member stated that a number of welfare reforms targeted at working age people had happened since 2013 and with universal credit now being rolled out in Cheltenham, keeping this level of council tax support would ensure those residents that needed it were not impacted further and she requested that this council continued to support the scheme at 100% for 2018/19.

RESOLVED (unanimously) THAT

the council tax support scheme for working age customers for 2018/19, other than any annual uprating of premiums, allowances and non-dependant deductions be approved.