Decision details

Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Agree to issue for consultation the revised Council Tax Support Scheme (CTSS) for 2015/16 for working aged residents, as set out at Appendix A to the report, which proposes:

(a)  Amending the maximum liability level for assessment from 85% to 75%;

(b)  Withdrawing the Second Adult Rebate Scheme;

(c)  Reducing the capital threshold for working age to £6,000.

(d)  Retaining the following discretionary areas:

·  To continue to disregard War Widows and War Disablement income from income assessment for the scheme.

·  Continue the extended payment scheme in line with the Housing Benefit scheme.

(ii)  Delegate authority to the Chief Finance Officer, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, to carry out the required consultation and to make any appropriate amendments to the draft scheme arising from the consultation process, and to present the final draft scheme to the Assembly on 21 January 2015; and

(iii)  Recommend to the Assembly the creation of a discretionary exceptional hardship fund, initially of £50,000, from the additional income generated across all savings proposals related to Council Tax for 2015/16.