Agenda item

Report of the Head of Corporate Services regarding the Local Council Tax Support Scheme to replace the current Council Tax Benefit for April next year, attached.

The report of the Cabinet Member for Resources was submitted regarding the Local Council Tax Support Scheme to replace the current Council Tax Benefit for April next year (copy of report circulated with the agenda and appended to signed minutes).

With the consent of the meeting, Councillor Dr. Williams altered and moved the recommendations contained within the report and Councillor Stevens seconded:

Delete Recommendation (ii):

(ii)  Option 1 - the Southampton City Council ‘Council Tax Reduction Scheme’ as set out in Appendix 1 (the default scheme) with the amendments set out in Appendix 2a, which is designed to achieve a self-funding position.

AMENDED Recommendations to read:

(i)  To note and consider the responses from the consultation process and the equalities impact assessment as set out in Appendices 3 and 4.

(ii)  To approve Option 2

a.  for the year  2013/14 the Southampton City ‘Council Tax Reduction Scheme’ as set out in Appendix 1 (the default scheme) with the amendments set out in Appendix 2b, which is designed to comply with the transitional grant conditions and which will require additional Council funding of £720,400

and

b.  for the year 2014/15 and subsequent years the Southampton City Council ‘Council Tax Reduction Scheme’ as set out in Appendix 1 (the default scheme) with the amendments set out in Appendix 2a, which is designed to  achieve a self-funding position.

(iii)  To approve that, should option 2 be adopted, provision for the additional cost of £720,400 must be made in the 2013/14 budget agreed by Full Council at its meeting on 13^th February 2013.

(iv)  To delegate authority to the Head of Finance and IT following consultation with the Head of Legal, HR and Democratic Services and the Cabinet Member for Resources to adopt the Southampton City Council ‘Council Tax Reduction Scheme’ based on the preferred option selected by Council (Option 2 above) by 31^st January 2013 and to make any subsequent changes necessary to the adopted Scheme to give effect to the requirements of any Act, Regulations or Statutory Guidance enacted or published after the date of adoption.

(v)  That any scheme adopted is reviewed by the Head of Finance and IT following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Resources for subsequent financial years, and that recommendations for any substantive changes are brought back to Full Council for approval.

(vi)  That it be noted that all current claimants would be sent a letter following the Southampton Scheme being approved setting out how the change affects them and offering payment options.

UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE ALTERATION WAS DECLARED CARRIED

UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS AS AMENDED WERE APPROVED

RESOLVED:

(i)  That the responses from the consultation process and the equalities impact assessment as set out in Appendices 3 and 4 of the report be noted;

(ii)  That Option 2 be approved:

a. for the year  2013/14 the Southampton City Council ‘Council Tax Reduction Scheme’ as set out in Appendix 1 to the report (the default scheme) with the amendments set out in Appendix 2b to the report, which is designed to comply with the transitional grant conditions and which will require additional Council funding of £720,400

and

b. for the year 2014/15 and subsequent years the Southampton City Council ‘Council Tax Reduction Scheme as set out in Appendix 1 to the report (the default scheme) with the amendments set out in Appendix 2a to the report, which is designed to  achieve a self-funding position.

(iii)  That provision for the additional cost of £720,400 to be made in the 2013/14 budget and to be agreed by Full Council at its meeting on 13^th February 2013 be approved;

(iv)  That delegated authority be granted to the Head of Finance and IT following consultation with the Head of Legal, HR and Democratic Services and the Cabinet Member for Resources to adopt the Southampton City Council ‘Council Tax Reduction Scheme’ based on the preferred option selected by Council (Option 2 above) by 31^st January 2013 and to make any subsequent changes necessary to the adopted Scheme to give effect to the requirements of any Act, Regulations or Statutory Guidance enacted or published after the date of adoption.

(v)  That any scheme adopted be reviewed by the Head of Finance and IT following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Resources for subsequent financial years, and that recommendations for any substantive changes are brought back to Full Council for approval.

(vi)  That it be noted that all current claimants would be sent a letter following the Southampton Scheme being approved setting out how the change affects them and offering payment options.

NOTE: Councillors Inglis, Mintoff, Pope, Thomas and Turner declared disclosable pecuniary interests in the above matter, as beneficiaries under the council tax support scheme and remained in the meeting due to the granting of a dispensation to membersby the Monitoring Officer dated 20^th December 2012, to allow members to vote on certain matters likely to materially affect all members equally or affect members in common with other city residents.