To consider the proposed changes to the Local Council Tax Support scheme.

That the following changes be made to the Local Council Tax Support Scheme, effective from 1 April 2017, to align it to the Housing Benefit Scheme.

(i)That the Family Premium be removed for all new working age claimants where protection is not provided (i.e. those who receive Universal Credit, Income Support, Income Related Employment and Support Allowance or Income Based Jobseeker’s Allowance).

(ii)That the maximum period for backdating be reduced to one month.

(iii) That the maximum period for which a person can be absent from Great Britain and still receive Council Tax Support be reduced to four weeks apart from where protection is provided, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.