CEB Dec 2017: To recommend that Full Council adopt a new Council Tax Reduction Scheme from 2018/19

Council Jan 2017: To adopt a new Council Tax Reduction Scheme from 2018/19

The Executive Director of Organisational Development and Corporate Services submitted a report which approved the proposals made for consultation on changes to the Council’s Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2018/19.

Cllr Susan Brown, Board Member for Customer & Corporate Services presented the report. She said the scheme reflected the Council’s believe in financial inclusion and a recognition that  seeking to secure money owed from residents who do not have much is rarely cost-effective as it cost more in officer time to chase late payments than the money collected. The reviewed scheme takes into account the changes in the benefit system, in particular, the introduction of Universal Credit.

Having spoken to Cllrs there is a clear view that it would not be preferable to consult on all the options given in the paper but, rather, to focus only on those which the Council would countenance.

She recommended the Council consult on the following options

The consultation document will acknowledge the existence of options which have, effectively, been ruled out. 

The Programme Manager for Revenue and Benefits said the proposed consultation document would be amended to reflect the options agreed by the Board.  The consultation will run for  2 months and papers will be available on the Council’s website, in Templar Square shopping centre and the Town Hall.

The Board  discussed  the nature of the consultation and made the following suggestions:

·         The consultation document needs to be sufficiently ‘user friendly’ to engage the wider community without, at the same time simplifying this complex matter to a degree that it ceased to become meaningful. 

·         Workshop activities to promote the consultation in community centres

·         Council’s Communications team could create a video to explain the complex concepts.

·         Briefing note for councillors so they can explain the proposals to constituents

·         Focus groups sessions to get people’s feedback.

Cllr Brown agreed to set up a focus group with a cross section of key customers to complement the wider consultation. The Programme Manager for Revenue and  Benefits agreed to review the consultation document to make it more user friendly,  and  agreed that all Councillors would be a provided with a ‘one page’ briefing note to inform conversations with constituents.

The City Executive Board resolved to:

1.    Agree that  options 1, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 9  as set out in the table at paragraph 9 should be subject to public consultation.

2.    Agree to consult on the proposals for an 8 week period form 19 July 2017 and;

3.    Instruct the Executive Director of Organisational Development and Corporate Services to bring a further report to December CEB subject to the outcome of the consultation process.