Councillor Tanner arrived for the start of this item.

Council considered a report from the Executive Director Organisational Development & Corporate Services to the City Executive Board on 20 December 2017 asking the Board to consider the feedback from the recent consultation on the proposed changes to the Local Council Tax Support Scheme and to agree the principles of the new scheme to be drawn up for approval by Council.

The full draft scheme was also available to Council.

Councillor Brown, Leader of the Council, presented the report and moved the recommendations which were adopted on being seconded and put to the vote.

Council resolved to:

adopt the Council Tax reduction scheme for 2018/19 comprising that in place as at 1 April 2017 with changes as set out in the options in the report to:

1.    Create an income band scheme for Universal Credit  customers

2.    Remove second adult reduction provision

3.    Limit backdating to one month

4.    Introduce a minimum income floor for self-employed claims

5.     Reduce period where someone can claim whilst abroad

6.    Remove family premium for new claims.

The Executive Director Organisational Development & Corporate Services had submitted a report to consider the feedback from the recent consultation on the proposed changes to the Local Council Tax Support Scheme and to agree the principles of the new scheme to be drawn up for approval by Council on 29th January 2018.

Councillor Susan Brown, Board Member for Customer & Corporate Services, introduced the report. While there had been relatively few responses to the consultation they had been well informed and of high quality.  The report’s recommendations were supported by the majority of respondents; would allow officers to respond to some of the consequences of the introduction of Universal Credit for hard pressed families; and represent a significant contribution to financial inclusion. It was noteworthy that the City was one of only a few to provide such support.

In discussion it was observed that the opportunity to raise Council tax referred to in the previous item could have cumulative consequences for families if, for example, the City Council,  County Council and Thames Valley Police all chose to take advantage of it. This was something which Members and officers would have to have regard to.

The City Executive Board resolved to:

1.    Note the outcome of the consultation on the proposed Council Tax Reduction Scheme;

2.    Instruct the Executive Director Organisational Development & Corporate Services  to draft the details of the new Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2018/19, including provision for uprating the proposed income band scheme, and submit the new Local Council Tax Support Scheme to Council for approval at its meeting on the 29th January 2018; and

3.    Recommend Council to resolve to adopt the new Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme.

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.