Council Tax Support |
Introduction
Council Tax support scheme
The council is seeking your views on proposals to revise the current Council Tax Support scheme which will be introduced in April 2017.
The survey will only take around ten minutes and will inform any challenges before a final decision is made on 18 January, 2017, at a full council meeting.
In recent years the Council has experienced major financial changes due to reductions in central government funding, volatility on financing and cost / income pressures on services. These challenging times will continue until at least 2021 and the council is committed to saving £3.3m by that time.
However, the council also has a stated aim to develop safer, stronger, healthier and more independent communities whilst protecting the most vulnerable and protection in the existing scheme will not be changed but will be strengthened by the inclusion of a hardship policy.
Key information about the current scheme
South Holland pays around £4.5million of Council Tax Support to around 6,300 households on low incomes.
The core principles of the local scheme are: -
The survey will only take around ten minutes and will inform any challenges before a final decision is made on 18 January, 2017, at a full council meeting.
In recent years the Council has experienced major financial changes due to reductions in central government funding, volatility on financing and cost / income pressures on services. These challenging times will continue until at least 2021 and the council is committed to saving £3.3m by that time.
However, the council also has a stated aim to develop safer, stronger, healthier and more independent communities whilst protecting the most vulnerable and protection in the existing scheme will not be changed but will be strengthened by the inclusion of a hardship policy.
Key information about the current scheme
South Holland pays around £4.5million of Council Tax Support to around 6,300 households on low incomes.
The core principles of the local scheme are: -
- Protection for : -
People over pension age (as prescribed by Government)
Forces / Ex-forces personnel with Disablement Pensions and War Widows irrespective of age
Forces / Ex-forces personnel with Disablement Pensions and War Widows irrespective of age
- People with children, disabilities or caring responsibilities will be supported
We will continue to apply the wide range of provisions in the previous Council Tax Benefit scheme that recognised the additional needs of the disabled, those with children and those with caring responsibilities.
Incentives to work will be supported
Retain provision within the previous Council Tax Benefit scheme, thereby maintaining the rate at which support is withdrawn as income increases.
Closing date for submission of responses is 5:00pm on Wednesday 14th December 2016.
Closing date for submission of responses is 5:00pm on Wednesday 14th December 2016.