Issue - meetings

The Shadow Overview and Scrutiny Committee is asked to comment on the proposal set out at 4.1 of the report.  Committee’s feedback will be presented for consideration by the Shadow Executive Committee at its February 2019 meeting.

The Head of Revenue & Benefits (DCP) presented a report setting proposals for Local Council Tax Support scheme (LCTS) for Dorset Council.

As part of the LGR discussions with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) it was agreed that the Council would be allowed up to two years to agree an aligned LCTS scheme. This was in recognition that significant resources would be utilised to successfully implement the new Unitary Council and that there may not, initially, be the capacity to support the creation of an aligned scheme.

However, members were advised that officers were of the view that there was the capacity within existing resources to create an aligned LCTS scheme from 1 April 2019. The report considered the benefits of having an aligned scheme for 2019/20 and the opportunities that this would bring to help reduce customer confusion and local authority administration. A consultation exercise had taken place with customers and stakeholders.

In presenting his report and in response to comments from Councillors outside of the meeting, the Head of Revenue & Benefits reported the following amendments to his report.

1.    Appendix 2- Existing LCTS schemes (pages 25 and 26 of the agenda) needed to be amended for EDDC and NDDC so that the section headed “Who is protected under the scheme? Reads:-

Pensioners

Those receiving:

Disability Premium, Enhanced Disability Premium, Severe Disability Premium, Carer Premium, Disabled Child Premium,

The Support Component within their Employment Support Allowance

Those in receipt of War Disablement Pension, War Widows Pension or War Widows Disablement Pension

Universal Credit recipients, who are not pensioners, but the applicant or their partner is in receipt of an income or premium listed above.

2.    Appendix 3 – LCTS Options (pages 27 and 28 of the agenda) needed to be amended for Option B so that part was amended to:-

Option B - aligned scheme with a maximum support for those of working age (not protected) limited to 90%

Under this option, the Dorset Council CTS would be aligned as follows:

•             The scheme would be means tested and similar to the old Council Tax Benefit scheme (where appropriate)

•             Protection would be provided to the following types of claimant:

§  Pensioners

§  Those where the applicant (or partner) are receiving:

·         Disability Premium, Enhanced Disability Premium, Severe Disability Premium, Carer Premium, Disabled Child Premium or the Support Component within their Employment Support Allowance

·         Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment but are not in receipt of one of the premiums mentioned above

§  Those in receipt of War Disablement Pension, War Widows Pension or War Widows Disablement Pension

§  Universal Credit recipients, who are not pensioners, but the applicant or their partner is in receipt of an income or premium listed above.

•             The maximum entitlement for protected claimants would be 100%

•             The maximum entitlement for those claimants who are not protected would be 90% (based on Council Tax liability)

•             The scheme would provide support for those that have a second adult living with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 75