Issue - meetings

The Cabinet Member for Social Care and Health Integration introduced a report on the Council Tax Support (CTS) Scheme 2022/23.

The Assembly was advised that the CTS scheme for 2022/23 required no further changes due to the administrative improvements implemented within the 2021/22 CTS scheme. Those changes improved clarity, alignment with other welfare benefits, primarily Universal Credit, and enhanced access for those eligible for entitlement. There were expected to be new regulations published in January 2022 relating to the prescribed requirements for the pension age scheme. These would be incorporated into the Council’s CTS prior to publication.

The Assembly resolved to:

i) Agree that the Council Tax Support Scheme implemented for 2021/22 remain unchanged and implemented for 2022/23; and

ii) Note that any changes to the prescribed requirements for the pension age scheme shall be incorporated into the CTS before publication.

The Cabinet Member for Finance, Performance and Core Services introduced a report on the local Council Tax Support Scheme (CTSS) for 2022/23, which the Council had a statutory duty to review annually.

The Cabinet Member advised that the Council had made a number of improvements to its scheme over recent years to bring it into line with other welfare benefits, such as Universal Credit, and to enhance accessibility for the most vulnerable in the community.  He added that without additional funding from Government it was not possible to further enhance the scheme on offer by, for example, reducing the current ‘minimum payment’ threshold of 25% for working age claimants.  Therefore, it was proposed to retain the scheme that was agreed for 2021/22, subject to any amendments that may become necessary as a consequence of new regulations relating to the pension age scheme.

Cabinet resolved to recommend the Assembly to:

(i)  Agree that the Council Tax Support Scheme implemented for 2021/22 remain unchanged and implemented for 2022/23; and

(ii)  Note that any changes to the prescribed requirements for the pension age scheme shall be incorporated into the CTSS before publication.