Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Director Finance.

Agreed:

RECOMMENDED that Council agree to the adoption of the proposed policy for the application of the Discretionary Scheme element of the Council Tax Support Fund scheme.

Reason for Decision: As set out in the report.

The Executive received the report which set out the new led Government Council Tax Support Fund for 2023-24. The Government had provided £100 million to local authorities to support economically vulnerable residents with their Council Tax payments. The Council Tax Support Fund (CTSF) was a single year grant payment to be made to Council Tax Billing Authorities.

Members noted that the indicative allocation for Exeter City Council was £186,776 which must be fully spent by the end of March 2024 and the use of the funding was divided into two schemes:-

·         the Mandatory Scheme would reduce the liability of all current recipients of Council Tax Support at the start of 2023-24 by up to £25 where they had a remaining liability; and

·         the Discretionary Scheme which would determine the local approach for using any remaining funds to help economically vulnerable residents with their Council Tax bills.

Councillor D. Moore, as an opposition group leader, spoke on this item. She enquired whether there would be any performance indicators in relation to the length of time for processing requests for support.

The Portfolio Holder for Customer Services andCouncil Housing welcomed the report, which was considered to be an excellent scheme to support residents. The £25 liability reduction would greatly support residents in the current economic climate.

The Leader requested that a response on performance monitoring and assessment of potential risk to overpayments be made available.

RECOMMENDED that Council agree to the adoption of the proposed policy for the application of the Discretionary Scheme element of the Council Tax Support Fund scheme.