Decision details

Council Tax Reduction Scheme

Decision Maker: Council

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: No

Decisions:

In accordance with the Council Tax Reduction Scheme in Wales as set by regulations made under Schedule 1B of the Local Government Finance Act, 1992 (as inserted by the Local Government Finance Act, 2012) and the approval by the National Assembly for Wales (NAfW) of two sets of regulations (as set out in the report) on the 26th November, 2013, the Director, Director of Finance and Digital Services sought the approval of Members to adopt a Council Tax Reduction Scheme by the 31st January, 2020.

 

The Plaid Group expressed its disappointment that the Welsh Government will not fully disregard all of the War pensions in the National Scheme but continue with the £10 prescribed disregard for War disablement Pensions and War widows pensions.

 

Following consideration of the report it was RESOLVED to agree the following recommendations and the additional recommendation which reflected the concerns of the Plaid Group–

 

1.To note and adopt the provisions of the Prescribed requirements Regulations and the amendments made to those regulations by the Amendment Regulations (as approved by NAfW on 7th January 2020) as the Council’s local CTRS for 2020/21, subject to the local discretions that the Council is able to exercise;

 

2.To note the outcome of the consultation exercise undertaken by the Council on the local discretions applicable to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS) for 2020/21;

 

3.To confirm the discretions applicable to the Council’s local CTRS as set out at paragraph 5.3 (Table 2 below) of this report; and

 

4. That this Council writes to the First Minister of Wales asking him to remedy this grave injustice by varying the National Council Tax Reduction Scheme to provide for a prescribed full disregard in future years and that his response be reported back to this Council at a future date.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table 2

 

Discretionary Parts of the Prescribed Requirements Regulations

 

(Part 5 – Other Matters that must be included in an authority’s scheme)

Prescribed Requirements Regulations (Minimum Requirement)

Recommended  Discretion to be adopted

Ability to increase the standard extended reduction period of  4 weeks given to applicants where they have previously been receiving a Council Tax reduction that is to end, as they have ceased receiving qualifying benefits as a result of returning to work, increasing their hours of work, or receiving increased earnings.

 

Regulation 32 (3) paragraph (33) of Schedule 1 and Regulation 33 (3), paragraph (35) and (40) of Schedule 6.

4 Weeks

Pensioners:

The standard period of 4 weeks specified in paragraph (33) of Schedule 1 will apply, and

 

Non- Pensioners:

The standard period of 4 weeks specified in paragraph (35) and (40) of Schedule 6 will apply

Ability to backdate an application for CTR with regard to late claims prior to the standard period of 3 months before the claim is made.

Regulation 34 (4) and paragraph (3) and (4) of Schedule 13.

3 Months

Pensioners:

A period of 6 months will apply,

 

Non-Pensioners:

A period of 6 months will apply,

 

 

Ability to disregard more than the statutory weekly £10 of income received in respect of War Disablement Pensions and War Widow's Pensions (disregarded when calculating income of the applicant);

Regulation 34 (5), paragraphs 1(a) and 1(b) Schedule 4 and paragraphs 20(a) and 20(b) of Schedule 9

£10

Pensioners:

The total value of any pension specified in paragraphs 1 (a) and (b), Schedule 4 will be disregarded.

 

Non-Pensioners:

The total value of any pension specified in paragraphs 20 (a) and (b), Schedule 9 will be disregarded.

 

Publication date: 23/09/2020

Date of decision: 15/01/2020

Decided at meeting: 15/01/2020 - Council

Accompanying Documents: