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.
Minutes:
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 them who is on low income (Second Adult
Rebate)
•
The scheme would not include a limit on the
lowest amount given
•
The maximum period of backdating that can be
awarded is 1 month. (This links with the rules relating to Housing Benefit and
should help reduce customer confusion)
•
A Family Premium will not be applied in the
award calculation if it relates to a new claim or a new family from 1 April
2017. (Also links to the rules relating to Housing Benefit and should
help reduce customer confusion)
•
If the claimant is temporary absent from the
UK up to 4 weeks would be awarded (subject to conditions). However, up to 52
weeks would be awarded if the absence relates to a bereavement, or the claimant
receiving medical care, etc. (Again, this links with the rules relating to
Housing Benefit and should help reduce customer confusion).
•
If the claimant is receiving Universal Credit
(UC), CTS would be awarded for a period of 6 months and calculated on an
estimated UC average income for that period. The period would come to an end if
UC was no longer in payment. Additionally, the claimant would be entitled to
ask for a review of their entitlement, during that period, if their
circumstances had significantly changed.
The committee was asked to consider 3 options set
out within the report Option A, the status quo, Option C, aligned scheme with a maximum support for those of working age (not protected) limited to 85%
and Option B, aligned scheme with a maximum support for those of working age (not protected) limited to 90%.
Members were advised that Option B was
an aligned scheme where everyone would be treated consistently regardless of
where they lived in the Council area and help those on UC to budget more
easily. Although these amendments
addressed some of the committees concerns, members sought further assurance
regarding the following:-
Foster Carers allowance
Impact on Kinship Carers
Effect on Seasonal workers, for example tenant
farmers
Separated couples
It was suggested that any councillor that had
detailed concerns should report them to the Scrutiny Officer by 16 January 2019
in order that these issues could be considered by the Chairman of the Finance Work
Stream and Section 151 Officers prior to the report and recommendation being
considered by the Shadow Executive Committee on 11 February 2019. The final
decision would be made by the Shadow Dorset Council at its meeting on 20
February 2019.
Overall, subject to those detailed concerns set out
above being addressed most members of the committee supported Option B as the
fairest scheme proposed, however it was recognised that the council needed to
ensure that the most vulnerable members of the community were protected and
supported.
Cllr N Lacey-Clarke proposed that Option
B be adopted as the LCTS scheme for Dorset Council but with a maximum support for those of working
age (not protected) limited to 91.5%. This
was seconded by Cllr J Somper.
In making the recommendation Cllr Lacey-Clarke
felt unable to support a reduction in support whilst council tax was likely to
increase in some areas.
Upon being put to the vote the motion was carried.
Recommendation
to Shadow Executive Committee
That the Shadow Overview & Scrutiny Committee supports Option
B be adopted as the LCTS scheme for Dorset Council but with a maximum support for those of working
age (not protected) limited to 91.5%.
Supporting documents: