Cabinet received Minute OSC23/31 arising from the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 16 October 2023, that had considered a report on the planned consultation on proposed changes to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS) to take effect from 1 April 2024.  The proposed changes to the scheme for 2024/25 were to increase the working age maximum to 100% and to remove the £5 per week minimum payment.  This would mean that those residents on the lowest of incomes would not have to pay any council tax.     

The Council was required to undertake a consultation with both the public and the Major Precepting Authorities when changes to the CTRS were proposed. It was therefore proposed and agreed to run a six-week consultation exercise during November and December taking the form of an online stakeholder survey. Details of the consultation documentation were attached to the report at Appendix A and the consultation results would be reported to Members in early 2024. 

It was requested and agreed that contact be made with support services such as the Citizen’s Advice Bureau and Foodbanks to raise the profile of the consultation and assist residents in responding.  It was further requested that plain English be used throughout the consultation document and simplified wherever possible to aid completion.   There was a general plea that all consultation documents should be seen by the relevant Cabinet Portfolio Holder prior to publication. 

It was noted that the imminent Royal Assent of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill would allow the Council to reduce the minimum period for the implementation of a premium for empty premises from two years to one year, with effect from 1 April 2024; and allow the introduction of a second homes premium of up to 100% with effect from 1 April 2025.

It was acknowledged that moving to a 100% working age CTRS and the removal of the £5 per week minimum level, would inevitably lead to an increase in the cost to the tax base, however, the increase in the tax base generally (estimated at around £230k) and the change to the empty property premiums with effect from 1 April 2024 could offset the majority of the additional costs.

RESOLVED: That consultation with the public and Major Precepting Authorities on proposed changes to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme for working age applicants with effect from 1 April 2024 be approved.

(Councillor Field declared a personal interest in this matter as an elected Member of East Sussex County Council and in accordance with the Code of Conduct remained in the room during the consideration thereof).