Issue - meetings

Report of the Business Development and Support Manager

Mr L Butler presented the report to Members. He advised that the district and borough authorities had been asked by LCC to look at Council Tax discounts and that the report outlined the discounts that could be reviewed. Though, this piece of work had already been scheduled for Quarter 1 for the Parntership. He highlighted that the table on page 36 of the report provided Members with a snap shot of the current discounts applied by each partner authority adding that it was the intention of the Government, that from 2019, would give local authorities additional discretion to increase the premium to 100%.

Mr A Wilson advised that the County had paid a lot of attention to Council Tax collections and felt that a more unified approach would be more appropriate.

Members acknowledge that all three authorities had different schemes and that focus was to bring empty homes back into use which would help some way towards the housing crisis.

Mr L Butler advised that Members that the authorities had a duty to consult on changes, and to be mindful that Council Tax Base needed to be set in December so consideration of any changes would be required around September.

By affirmation of the meeting it was

RESOLVED THAT:

The proposals and engagement plan detailed within the report be agreed.