Issue - meetings

To submit the report of the Head of Function (Resources).

RESOLVED to recommend to the County Council as follows:-

•  To note the making of the County Council Reduction Scheme and prescribed Requirements (Wales) Regulations (“the Prescribed Requirements Regulations”) by the Welsh Assembly on 26th November, 2013 and the proposed making of the Council Tax Reduction Schemes (Prescribed Requirements and Default Schemes)(Wales)(Amendment) Regulations by the Welsh Assembly on 14th January, 2014.

•  To note the outcome of the consultation exercise undertaken by the Council on the renewal of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2014-15.

•  To adopt the Scheme as set out in Appendix B of the report.

Reported by the Head of Function (Resources) – That Council Tax Benefit was replaced in April, 2013 by the Council Tax Reduction Scheme.  The County Council on 24^th January, 2013 adopted a Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2013-14 only.  The County Council was required to implement a new scheme for 2014-2015 and the proposed scheme was outlined at Appendix B of the report.

The Portfolio Holder stated that this was an Assembly scheme but one which would not be fully funded by them. A budget provision of £400k was required to meet the shortfall which would be monitored in budget monitoring reports to the Executive. He did not consider the shortfall acceptable or sustainable and hoped that this message would be relayed to the Assembly.

Councillor Bob Parry, OBE, on behalf of Councillor Dylan Rees enquired as to whether the Council will be submitting an application for the maximum amount by the 14^th January deadline in respect of the additional funding of £1.3m made available for Discretionary Housing Payments to Welsh Local Authorities?

The Portfolio Holder in response stated that an application would be submitted by the deadline stipulated.

RESOLVED to recommend to the County Council as follows:-

•  To note the making of the County Council Reduction Scheme and prescribed Requirements (Wales) Regulations (“the Prescribed Requirements Regulations”) by the Welsh Assembly on 26th November, 2013 and the proposed making of the Council Tax Reduction Schemes (Prescribed Requirements and Default Schemes)(Wales)(Amendment) Regulations by the Welsh Assembly on 14th January, 2014.

•  To note the outcome of the consultation exercise undertaken by the Council on the renewal of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2014-15.

•  To adopt the Scheme as set out in Appendix B of the report.