RESOLVED

1.    That the uprating changes for the 2019/20 council tax support scheme detailed in the report be agreed, in order to maintain low council tax charges for those on lower incomes and other vulnerable residents

2.    That Council be recommended to adopt the new 2019/20 scheme.

3.    That Council be recommended to agree to implement the proposed council tax technical reforms concerning the increased empty property premium from 1 April 2019 and subsequent years following the amendments to Section 11B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance presented the report and thanked those involved in preparing the report, which set out a proposed Council Tax Support Scheme for 2019/20, for recommendation to Council.  He gave some background to the cuts in government funding and the commitment of the Council to not pass on those cuts to the most vulnerable residents.

The Director of Corporate Services advised that the technical reforms had recently received royal assent and highlighted the proposal to charge the additional premium on properties which had been empty for some time to encourage their being brought back into use for residential accommodation.

The Chair welcomed the report and that council tax had remained at the same level over recent years and thereby honouring the key pledge of the Council to protect those residents on low incomes.

RESOLVED

1.    That the uprating changes for the 2019/20 council tax support scheme detailed in the report be agreed, in order to maintain low council tax charges for those on lower incomes and other vulnerable residents

2.    That Council be recommended to adopt the new 2019/20 scheme.

3.    That Council be recommended to agree to implement the proposed council tax technical reforms concerning the increased empty property premium from 1 April 2019 and subsequent years following the amendments to Section 11B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.