Agenda item

The Council considered a report of the Corporate Director of Resources that sought approval for the continuation of the current Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme for a further year into 2023/24, which would continue the protection afforded to all claimants in line with what their entitlement would have been under the former Council Tax Benefit system (for copy see file of Minutes).

In moving the report and recommendations Councillor R Bell, Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Finance informed Council that in agreeing the proposals Durham would remain the only council in the north east to have a scheme which continued to provide support equal to that which was available under the former Council Tax Benefit scheme.

The scheme targeted support to those who needed it most.  However, it must be recognised that this came at a cost in terms of lost Council Tax revenue compared with virtually every other council in the country but it was clearly the right decision for next year particularly given the current squeeze on household income and budgets.

In seconding the report and recommendations Councillor A Shield, Portfolio Holder for Equality and Inclusion thanked the Corporate Director, his staff and Councillor R Bell for the report.

All Members, past and present, could be proud that the council had been able to retain a Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme, initiated by the previous administration, that retained support to vulnerable and disadvantaged households equal to that which was available under the former Council Tax Benefit scheme.  Durham was only one of a handful of council’s across the country and the only authority in the north east which continued to retain a local council tax reduction scheme at the same level as was under the former National Council Tax Benefit system.  While this came at the cost of lost Council Tax revenues, now was not the time to consider making changes to the scheme.

Resolved:

That the recommendations in the report be approved.