Issue - meetings

Report of the Strategic Director of Housing and Customer Services

Presented by the Corporate Portfolio Holder

The Strategic Director of Housing and Customer Services presented the report to Members.

He highlighted to Members that the Council had a discretionary discount scheme to support the most vulnerable members of the community in paying their Council Tax and that historically the scheme had been funded by both the District Council and several preceptors, however for the 2019/20 year the funding would not available. 

He advised them that the report recommended that the Council made up the shortfall in funding for 2019/20 by utilising the remaining New Burdens grant funding, to maintain the continuity of the scheme in assisting vulnerable residents. He informed Members that it was then proposed that the Council would consult on the future of the scheme in 2019/20 for subsequent financial years.

Councillor R Blunt expressed his support for the scheme and that the authority should be able to continue to offer help to those that needed it.

It was moved by Councillor R Blunt, seconded by Councillor T Gillard and

RESOLVED THAT:

1.    The removal of preceptor contributions for the discretionary discount fund for 2019/20 be noted.

2.    The budget from £5,828 to £40,000 for 2019/20 using the new burdens funding to address the resulting shortfall be increased.

3.    A public consultation in 2019/20 on funding arrangements for future financial years be commissioned.

Reason for decision: Preceptor funding has been withdrawn resulting in a diminished budget.