Decision - Council Tax Reduction Review

The council must review its Council Tax Reduction scheme each year. This report sets out that review and its recommendations.

(1)          Note that the council undertook informal and formal consultation as a part of this review and that as a part of the formal consultation a draft scheme was published and people were invited to give their views on that draft scheme.

(2)          Note the outcome of that consultation as set out in section 5

(3)          Note that an Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) has been undertaken on the proposed changes in the draft scheme (appendix 1) which has been summarised in section 7

(4)          Notes that the Executive Director Finance & Resources will, prior to 1^st April 2015, exercise her delegated powers to increase the appropriate calculative elements of the scheme, to give effect to national changes.

(5)          That Policy & Resources Committee recommends to Council that:

(a)       That the changes set out in section 3.17 are made to The Council Tax Reduction Scheme (Persons who are not Pensioners) (Brighton & Hove City Council) 2013 to take effect from 1^st April 2015.

(b)       Council note the consequence of the decision in 2.5.1 will mean the option to generate £1.7million through a more widely revised scheme included within the savings proposals elsewhere on this agenda cannot form part of the package for setting the 2015/16 budget and therefore alternative savings proposals will need to be identified. There is no further opportunity to revisit this scheme to support setting the 2015/16 budget.